Thermal Decomposition of Commercial Silicone Oil to Produce High Yield High Surface Area SiC Nanorods

Progress of One-Dimensional SiC Nanomaterials: Design, Fabrication and Sensing Applications

One-dimensional silicon carbide (SiC) nanomaterials hold great promise for a series of applications, such as nanoelectronic devices, sensors, supercapacitors, and catalyst carriers, attributed to their unique electrical, mechanical, and physicochemical properties. Recent progress in their design and fabrication has led to a deep understanding of the structural evolution and structure-property correlation. Several unique attributes, such as high electron mobility, offer SiC nanomaterials an opportunity in the design of SiC-based sensors with high sensitivity. In this review, a brief introduction to the structure and properties of SiC is first presented, and the latest progress in design and fabrication of one-dimensional SiC nanomaterials is summarized. Then, the sensing applications of one-dimensional SiC nanomaterials are reviewed. Finally, our perspectives on the important research direction and future opportunities of one-dimensional SiC nanomaterial for sensors are proposed.

Comparative Study on Carbon Erosion of Nickel Alloys in the Presence of Organic Compounds under Various Reaction Conditions

The processes of carbon erosion of nickel alloys during the catalytic pyrolysis of organic compounds with the formation of carbon nanofibers in a flow-through reactor as well as under reaction conditions in a close volume (Reactions under Autogenic Pressure at Elevated Temperature, RAPET) were studied. The efficiency of the ferromagnetic resonance method to monitor the appearance of catalytically active nickel particles in these processes has been shown. As found, the interaction of bulk Ni-Cr alloy with the reaction medium containing halogenated hydrocarbons (1,2-dichloroethane, 1-iodobutane, 1-bromobutane) results in the appearance of ferromagnetic particles of similar dimensions (~200-300 nm). In the cases of hexachlorobenzene and hexafluorobenzene, the presence of a hydrogen source (hexamethylbenzene) in the reaction mixture was shown to be highly required. The microdispersed samples of Ni-Cu and Ni-Mo alloys were prepared by mechanochemical alloying of powders and by reductive thermolysis of salts-precursors, accordingly. Their interaction with polymers (polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride) under RAPET conditions and with ethylene and 1,2-dichloroethane in a flow-through reactor are comparatively studied as well. According to microscopic data, the morphology of the formed carbon nanofibers is affected by the alloy composition and by the nature of the used organic substrate.

The Formation Process and Strengthening Mechanism of SiC Nanowires in a Carbon-Coated Porous BN/Si3N4 Ceramic Joint

Porous BN/Si₃N₄ ceramics carbon-coated by carbon coating were joined with SiCo38 (wt. %) filler. The formation process and strengthening mechanism of silicon carbide nanowires to the joint were analyzed in detail. The outcome manifests that there is no distinct phase change in the porous BN/Si₃N₄ ceramic without carbon-coated joint. The highest joint strength was obtained at 1320 °C (~38 MPa). However, a larger number of silicon carbide nanowires were generated in the carbon-coated joints. The highest joint strength of the carbon-coated joint was ~89 MPa at 1340 °C. Specifically, silicon carbide nanowires were formed by the reaction of the carbon coated on the porous BN/Si₃N₄ ceramic with the SiCo38 filler via the Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) method and established a bridge in the joint. It grows on the β-SiC (111) crystal plane and the interplanar spacing is 0.254 nm. It has a bamboo-like shape with a resemblance to alloy balls on the ends, and its surface is coated with SiO₂. The improved carbon-coated porous BN/Si₃N₄ joint strength is possibly ascribed to the bridging of nanowires in the joint.

Facile synthesis of RuOx/SiC/C for photoelectrocatalysis

The rapid growth of quasi-aligned SiC nanowire arrays on carbon paper was achieved by an induction heating technique without catalyst assistance. RuO_x/SiC/C results in enhanced performance compared to SiC/C toward the photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reaction.

Synthesis and characterization of ultralong SiC nanowires with unique optical properties, excellent thermal stability and flexible nanomechanical properties

Several-millimeter long SiC nanowires (NWs) with unique optical properties, excellent thermal stability and flexible nanomechanical properties were synthesized using a simple method with silicon and phenolic resin as the raw materials. The SiC NWs displayed special optical properties that were attributed to their large size and Al-doping. They displayed broad green emission at 527.8 nm (2.35 eV) and purple emission concentrated at 438.9 nm (2.83 eV), in contrast to the other results, and the synthesized SiC NWs could also remain relatively stable in air up to 1000 °C indicating excellent thermal stability. The Young’s moduli of the SiC NWs with a wide range of NW diameters (215–400 nm) were measured using an in situ nanoindentation method with a hybrid scanning electron microscopy/scanning probe microscopy (SEM/SPM) system for the first time. The results suggested that the values of the Young’s modulus of the SiC NWs showed no clear size dependence, and the corresponding Young’s moduli of the SiC NWs with diameters of 215 nm, 320 nm, and 400 nm were approximately 559.1 GPa, 540.0 GPa and 576.5 GPa, respectively. These findings provide value and guidance for studying and understanding the properties of SiC nanomaterials and for expanding their possible applications.

Dry autoclaving for the nanofabrication of sulfides, selenides, borides, phosphides, nitrides, carbides, and oxides

This review compiles various nanostructures fabricated by a distinct "dry autoclaving" approach, where the chemical reactions are carried out without solvents; above the dissociation temperature of the chemical precursor(s) at elevated temperature in a closed reactor. The diversity to fabricate carbides (SiC, Mo(2) C, WC), oxides (VOx-C, ZnO, Eu(2) O(3) , Fe(3) O(4) , MoO(2) ), hexaborides (LaB(6) , CeB(6) , NdB(6) , SmB(6) , EuB(6) , GdB(6) ), nitrides (TiN, NbN, TaN), phosphides (PtP(2) , WP), sulfides (ZnS, FeS/C, SnS/C, WS(2) , WS(2) /C), and selenides (Zn(1-x) Mn(x) Se/C, Cd(1-x) Mn(x) Se/C), with various shapes and sizes is accounted with plausible applications. This unique single-step, solvent-free synthetic process opens up a new route in the growing nanomaterials science; owing to its considerable advantages on the existing approaches.

A comparative study of solid and liquid non-aqueous phases for the biodegradation of hexane in two-phase partitioning bioreactors

A comparative study of the performance of solid and liquid non-aqueous phases (NAPs) to enhance the mass transfer and biodegradation of hexane by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in two-phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) was undertaken. A preliminary NAP screening was thus carried out among the most common solid and liquid NAPs used in pollutant biodegradation. The polymer Kraton G1657 (solid) and the liquid silicone oils SO20 and SO200 were selected from this screening based on their biocompatibility, resistance to microbial attack, non-volatility and high affinity for hexane (low partition coefficient: K = C(g)/C(NAP), where C(g) and C(NAP) represent the pollutant concentration in the gas phase and NAP, respectively). Despite the three NAPs exhibited a similar affinity for hexane (K approximately 0.0058), SO200 and SO20 showed a superior performance to Kraton G1657 in terms of hexane mass transfer and biodegradation enhancement. The enhanced performance of SO200 and SO20 could be explained by both the low interfacial area of this solid polymer (as a result of the large size of commercial beads) and by the interference of water on hexane transfer (observed in this work). When Kraton G1657 (20%) was tested in a TPPB inoculated with P. aeruginosa, steady state elimination capacities (ECs) of 5.6 +/- 0.6 g m(-3) h(-1) were achieved. These values were similar to those obtained in the absence of a NAP but lower compared to the ECs recorded in the presence of 20% of SO200 (10.6 +/- 0.9 g m(-3) h(-1)). Finally, this study showed that the enhancement in the transfer of hexane supported by SO200 was attenuated by limitations in microbial activity, as shown by the fact that the ECs in biotic systems were far lower than the maximum hexane transfer capacity recorded under abiotic conditions.

Facile synthesis of novel photoluminescent ZnO micro- and nanopencils

A single-step solvent-, catalyst-, and template-free synthesis process to prepare photoluminescent pencils of ZnO either in micro- or in nanosize diameters from a single precursor is demonstrated. The thermolysis of Zn's acetate dihydrate (ZAD) precursor in a closed stainless steel reactor at 700 degrees C under autogenic pressure (6.5 MPa), yielded carbon sphere-decorated ZnO micropencils (ZnO-M's). The ZnO-M's have novel room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) with well-defined emission peaks at the green, yellow, orange, and red regions of the visible spectra while suppressing the blue region. On the contrary, the thermolysis of ZAD in a closed stainless steel reactor at 700 degrees C with released pressure yielded uniformly carbon-coated ZnO nanopencils (ZN's). The coated carbon in ZN's quenches the complete UV-vis PL; however, after annealing ZN's at 600 degrees C/2 h in air, the UV PL is dominant, and the visible PL is suppressed. The carbon coating (partly or completely) on the one-dimensional (1D) ZnO surfaces plays an important role to modify PL properties. The insight into the reaction mechanism was gained through in situ mass spectrometry measurements. The as-prepared ZnO-M's and ZN's have been systematically characterized to determine their morphology, structure, and composition.

Tuning the morphologies of SiC nanowires via the control of growth temperature, and their photoluminescence properties

Single crystalline SiC nanowires were synthesized by a catalyst free vapor deposition method using elemental silicon and graphite carbon as the starting materials. The phase, morphology, crystal structure, and defects of the products were characterized by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Within a 6 h reaction time, the morphology of the SiC nanowires can be tuned to cylinder, hexagonal prism, or bamboo shape by simply altering the reaction temperature from 1470 °C, 1550 °C to 1630 °C, respectively. The photoluminescence of these differently shaped SiC nanowires was measured and is discussed. Based on the characterization results, the vapor-solid growth mechanisms for the multi-shaped SiC nanowires are proposed by taking into account the possible reactions between intermediate gas phases, the reaction steps, and the surface energy minimization.

Effect of inorganic-organic composite coating on the dispersion of silicon carbide nanoparticles in non-aqueous medium

In order to disperse silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles homogeneously in a non-aqueous medium, the surface of SiC nanoparticles needs to be modified via surface organic functionalization. A method of SiC nanoparticle surface modification by grafting of polyacetals via inorganic-organic composite coating was developed. The resulting graft percentage of up to 10.5% was much higher than that of direct grafting. The inorganic-organic composite coating on a SiC nanoparticle surface led to an almost complete decomposition of the secondary structure of the agglomerates and the formation of the primary structure. Dispersibility of the modified version was studied by using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and size distribution analyser. The sedimentation experiments showed that the coated SiC nanoparticles exhibited good suspension stability in butanone. The composition of the inorganic-organic composite coating on the SiC nanoparticles was investigated by energy dispersive x-ray analyses (EDX), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). This work provides a novel concept of surface grafting modification for non-oxide nanoparticles to improve their dispersibility in non-aqueous medium.