Submerged liquid plasma for the synthesis of unconventional nitrogen polymers

Glow discharge polymerization is not well understood due to the rapid/complex reaction at the plasma/gas precursor interface. Plasma reaction in a submerged condition allows post-plasma-polymerization, leading to further polymer growth and thus a stable structure. Electron collision with acetonitrile at the interface initiates the formation of radical monomers, which undergoes further rearrangement to form low-molecular (LM) nitrogen polymers (NPs). The radical-rich LM NPs go through further polymerization, forming stable high-molecular (HM) NPs (as determined using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry). LM NPs absorb light at a wavelength of 270â€...nm (λ max) whereas HM NPs show absorption at 420â€...nm (λ max), as determined from ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra. The fluorescence spectra of HM NPs show characteristic emission at 430â€...nm, which indicates the presence of nitrogen functional groups with external conjugation. The proposed structure of HM NPs is verified with different analytical instruments.