β-SiC nanorods with uniform amorphous SiO₂ wrappers on the outside surface

Large quantities of β-SiC nanorods with uniform amorphous SiO₂ wrappers were synthesized by carbothermal reduction of silica xerogel pieces with carbon nanoparticles embedded in the network. Power X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) results confirmed the formation of β-SiC and SiO₂. Low-magnification transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the nanorods were typically more than 20 μm in length. High-magnification TEM and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) indicated that the β-SiC nanorods (with typical diameters of 14 ± 16 nm) were wrapped in amorphous SiO₂ layers (with typical outside diameters of 45 ± 25 nm).