Synthesis of silicon carbide nanofibers from pitch blended with sol–gel derived silica

Abstract

Silicon carbide nanofibers were synthesized from coal tar pitch blended with sol–gel derived silica. Substituted silicon alkoxide was hydrolyzed to obtain the silica sol, which was blended with the pitch dissolved in a suitable solvent. The pitch silica mixture was heat-treated to 1400 °C followed by oxidation at 700 °C to get silicon carbide nanofibers. IR, Raman and X-ray studies reveal the formation of silicon carbide while SEM and TEM studies show silicon carbide nanofibers having the diameter in the range 45–60 nm.