In-situ synthesis of SiC nanowires on biomass carbon materials derived from cherry stones

Abstract

SiC nanowires were synthesized via the in-situ carbothermal reduction of silica xerogel on biomass carbon materials. The carbonaceous silica xerogel was prepared by sol-gel method using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silicon source, and carbonized cherry stones as carbon sources. The composition, morphology, and structures of the products obtained at different reaction temperatures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results show that the products have different phase compositions with the reaction temperature and a large number of β-SiC nanowires were obtained at 1300 °C for 8 h. The SiC nanowires have a diameter of 40–100 nm and a length of several microns. The thermogravimetric (TG) analysis showed that the content of SiC was about 43.2% in SiC nanowires/biomass carbon materials, and the Raman spectrum indicates the carbon phase has a higher graphitic structure.