Growth Of Graphitic Polyhedra, SiC Platelets, And Carbon Nanotubes Filled With SiC Nanowires By Laser Ablation

Abstract

Three characteristic silicon/carbon nanostructures, i.e., graphitic polyhedral (GP) particles, silicon carbide (SiC) platelets, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) filled with SiC nanowires, were synthesized by the laser ablation of Si‐C targets in the presence of high‐pressure Ar gas up to 0.9 MPa. The growth of nanostructures was controlled merely by adjusting the Si content in graphite and the ambient Ar gas pressure. Deposits containing GP particles were purified by heat treatment at 550° C in a pure oxygen atmosphere for 1 h. CNTs filled with SiC nanowires were grown without a catalyst. Unlike previous studies of CNTs filled with metals or compounds, all the CNTs checked by transmission electron microscopy contained SiC nanowires and no unfilled CNTs were produced. We discuss the growth mechanisms of the three nanostructures.