Efficient route to large arrays of CNx nanofibers by pyrolysis of ferrocene/melamine mixtures

We report a high-yield route to two-dimensional arrays $\text{(<400×400\hspace{0.05em}μ}{\mathrm{m}}^2)$ of aligned ${\mathrm{C}}_{49}{\mathrm{N}}_x$ $\text{(x⩽1)}$ nanofibers $\text{(<100}$ nm o.d.; <60 μm length), by pyrolyzing mixtures of ferrocene and melamine at 950–1050 °C under an Ar flow. The fibers exhibit unusual interlinked stacked-cone morphologies, ascribed to the presence of nitrogen. High-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy of the individual fibers reveals a 2% nitrogen content with ionization energies mainly at ∼400.9 eV, corresponding to N bonded to three C atoms within a hexagonal framework. The nanofibers may be useful for the economic fabrication of field emission sources and robust composites.