Novel synthesis of AlN nanowires with controlled diameters

A relatively low-cost, high-efficiency method is reported to synthesize AIN nanowires, using carbon nanotubes as templates. The AIN nanowires were fab ricated at 1100 degreesC, for 60 min. The diameters of the product could be roughly controlled by the sizes of carbon nanotubes selected as starting m aterials. The AIN nanowires obtained were among the thinnest ever known. X- ray diffraction, selected-area diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, etc. were employed t o characterize the products, which were found to be single crystals with so me defects. The axes of the nanowires are normal to {10 (1) over bar0} crys tal planes. A new synthesis mechanism is proposed.