Synthesis of One-Dimensional SiC Nanostructures from a Glassy Buckypaper

A simple and scalable synthetic strategy was developed for the fabrication of one-dimensional SiC nanostructures-nanorods and nanowires. Thin sheets of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were prepared by vacuum filtration and were washed repeatedly with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solution. The resulting "glassy buckypaper" was heated at 1300-1500 degrees C under Ar/H-2 to allow a solid state reaction between C and Si precursors to form a variety of SiC nanostructures. The morphology and crystal structures of SIC nanorods and nanowires were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), electron diffraction (ED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Furthermore, electrical conductance measurements were performed on SiC nanorods, demonstrating their potential applications in high-temperature sensors and control systems.