Growth and Morphology of β-Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nano-Belts by Carbothermal Reduction Nitridation of Used Silica Refractory Brick

Abstract

Silicon nitride (β-Si3N4) nano-belts had been synthesized by used silica bricks and carbon powder as raw materials through carbothermal reduction nitridation. The morphology and microstructure of β-Si3N4 nano-belts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM/HRSEM), energy disperse spectrum (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the well-crystallized β-Si3N4 nano-beltes were grown with thinness of 50-150nm and width of 3-5μm. The relatively purer β-Si3N4 were prone to be thin films with thinness of 150nm, while the as-grown SiCN (impurityβ-Si3N4with C elements) were presented as nanorods with cross section length of 150*150nm. Orientation growth mechanism by grain dislocation and vapor-solid (VS) mechanism were both involved in the growth of nanostructures of β-Si3N4 nano-beltes and SiCN nanorods.