Electrostatic Stabilization of Carbon Nitride Colloids in Organic Solvents Enables Stable Dispersions and Transparent Homogeneous CN Films for Optoelectronics.

Covalent modification of phenyl-modified carbon nitride with vinylthiazole groups via visible light induced grafting is reported. Modified structures express negative charge migration to the thiazole edges while the carbon nitride sheet remains positively charged in organic solutions. Such a phenomenon provides electrostatic stabilization of modified carbon nitride particles in organic media leading to highly organodispersible and colloidally stable carbon nitrides. The resulting structures can be homogeneously dispersed in organic solvents and can be cast to transparent films. The usefulness of such a processable colloidal carbon nitride building block is exemplified here by its high luminescence and inkjet printing of films.