Carbon nitride powders were rapidly synthesized at low temperature via the chemical metathesis reaction between CaCN2 and C2Cl6. X-ray diffraction results confirm the formation of crystalline graphitic carbon nitride. Besides the dominant morphology of nanoparticles, flakes, nanorods, hollow and solid spheres can be observed by transmission electron microscopy. The absorption peaks of C-N, C=N and s-triazine rings, as well as the absence of C N peak in the infrared spectra, further verify the formation of graphite-like sp(2)-bonded structure with planar networks. Elemental analysis gives an atomic ratio of N/C around 0.3. X-ray photoelectron spectra exhibit the existence of chemical bonding between C and N. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.