Growth of threaded AlN whiskers by a physical vapor transport method

Abstract

Threaded aluminum nitride (AlN) whiskers are grown by a physical vapor transport method in a radio-frequency induction heating furnace. The resultant whiskers are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The analysis shows that the whiskers are single-crystalline, wurtzite AlN. The threaded AlN whiskers are 0.5 μm∼100 μm in diameter and several millimeters in length in the fiber direction, and have lots of tiny sawteeth on the surface. The morphology of this threaded AlN whisker is beneficial for bonding when the whisker is used in composite. The growth of the whiskers is dominated by the vapor—solid (VS) mechanism, and the particular morphology might result from an oscillating condition produced in the radio-frequency induction heating furnace.