High specific surface area porous SiC ceramics coated with reticulated amorphous SiC nanowires

Abstract

High specific surface area porous SiC ceramics, coated completely with reticulated amorphous SiC nanowires, have been fabricated with commercially available phenolic resin and silicon powders using a novel method. The results indicate that the specific surface area and porosity of the as-synthesized materials can be up to 112 m 2 g −1 and 81%, respectively. The coated amorphous SiC nanowires have uniform structure and smooth surfaces. The electron emission turn-on field and threshold field are about 2.9 and 6.7 V μm −1, respectively. This kind of materials may simultaneously possess the unique properties of porous materials, SiC, and nanowires. And they may have promising applications in a wide variety of areas.