beta-SiC nanorods with uniform amorphous SiO2 wrappers on the outside surface

Large quantities of beta-SiC nanorods with uniform amorphous SiO2 wrappers were synthesized by carbothermal reduction of silica xerogel pieces with ca rbon nanoparticles embedded in the network. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) results confirmed the formation of beta-SiC and SiO2. Low -magnification transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that t he nanorods were typically more than 20 mu m in length. High-magnification TEM and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) indicated that the beta- SiC nanorods (with typical diameters of 14 +/- 6 ma) were wrapped in amorph ous SiO2 layers (with typical outside diameters of 45 +/- 25 nm). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.