Large-scale synthesis of beta-SiC nanowires by using mesoporous silica embedded with Fe nanoparticles

A novel method has been developed to produce bulk quantities of beta -SiC n anowires from the mixture of activated carbon and sol-gel derived silica em bedded with Fe nanoparticles. Detailed investigation with X-ray diffraction , transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersed X-ray and high-resolut ion transmission electron microscopy confirm that the nanowires consist of a 10-30 nm diameter single crystalline core wrapped with an amorphous silic on oxide layer, and have length up to several tens of micrometers. The form ation process of beta -SiC nanowires involves carbothermal reduction and a vapor-liquid-solid growth process. Two broad photoluminescence peaks locate d around 340 and 440 nm were observed at room temperature. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.