Silicon carbide nanotube (SiCNTs) has been proven as a suitable material for wide applications in high power, elevated temperature and harsh environment. For the first time, we reported in this article an effective synthesis of SiCNTs by microwave heating of SiO 2 and MWCNTs in molar ratio of 1:1, 1:3, 1:5 and 1:7. Blend of SiO 2 and MWCNTs in the molar ratio of 1:3 was proven to be the most suitable for the high yield synthesis of β-SiCNTs as confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern. Only SiCNTs were observed from the blend of MWCNTs and SiO 2 in the molar ratio of 1:3 from field emission scanning electron microscopy imaging. High magnification transmission electron microscopy showed that tubular structure of MWCNT was preserved with the inter-planar spacing of 0.25 nm. Absorption bands of Si-C bond were detected at 803 cm -1 in Fourier transform infrared spectrum. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed that SiCNTs from ratio of 1:3 showed the lowest weight loss. Thus, our synthetic process indicates high yield conversion of SiO 2 and MWCNTs to SiCNTs was achieved for blend of SiO 2 and MWCNTs in molar ratio of 1:3.
Silicon carbide nanomaterials especially silicon carbide nanowhiskers (SiCNWs) has been known for its excellent properties such as high thermal stability, good chemical inertness and excellent electronic properties. In this paper, a green synthesis of SiCNWs by microwave heating of blends of palm kernel shell (PKS) and silica was presented. The effect of ratio of PKS and silica on the synthesis process was also studied and reported. Blends of PKS and silica in different ratio were mixed homogenously in ultrasonic bath for 2 hours using ethanol as liquid medium. The blends were then dried on hotplate to remove the ethanol and compressed into pellets form.. Synthesis was conducted in 2.45 GHz multimode cavity at 1400 °C for 40 minutes. X-ray diffraction revealed that β-SiC was detected for samples synthesized from blends with ratio of PKS to silica of 5:1 and 7:1. FESEM images also show that SiCNWs with the average diameter of 70 nm were successfully formed from blends with ratio of PKS to silica of 5:1 and 7:1. A vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism was proposed to explain the growth of SiCNWs from blends of PKS and silica.
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