Inverted SiC nanoneedles grown on carbon fibers by a two-crucible method without catalyst

Abstract

Inverted single crystalline SiC nanoneedles with hexagonal cross-sections were grown on the surface of carbon fibers by high-frequency induction heating two-crucibles without using any catalysts. we employ a carbothermal reduction method of silicon monoxide with coke fibers to synthesize SiC nanoneedles within 5 min. The as-grown SiC nanoneedles shows bright blue color on carbon fibers in the [1 1 1] orientation of 3C-SiC structure. The needle-like structures grew on the substrate while the spindle portion was sticked into the carbon fibers which were different from other nanoneedles. Finally, the growth mechanism of SiC nanoneedles is proposed to be an axial direction growth with a driving force of screw dislocation and a radial direction growth with vapor–solid mechanism meanwhile.