Abstract

SiC nanofibrils have been prepared by direct reaction of carbon nanotubes with vapor phase SiO. The carbon nanotubes which are characterized by having substantially uniform diameters between 70-120 Å, multiple graphitic carbon layers arranged concentricity around the tube axis, and a hollow core, were prepared by catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons. Electron microscope studies of SiC nanofibrils as prepared revealed that the reaction was a pseudo-topotactic transformation since the product inherited macroscopic features of the starting carbon nanotubes. The diameters of the SiC are substantially uniform, and average about 150 Å. The crystallographic structure of the product was characterized with X-ray and electron diffraction. Both XRD and ED patterns can be indexed as β-silicon carbide with a cell parameter of a = 4.36 Å. Furthermore, the select area electron diffraction studies of individual SiC fibrils suggest that they are multi-twinned single crystals.

© 1995 Optical Society of America