Awl-like HfC nanowires grown on carbon cloth via Fe-catalyzed in a polymer pyrolysis route

Awl-like hafnium carbide (HfC) nanowires were successfully synthesized on carbon cloth in a polymer pyrolysis route via Fe-catalyzed for the first time. A detailed study of the HfC nanowire morphology was performed. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the morphology and microstructure of the obtained awl-like HfC nanowires and the growth mechanism was also discussed in detail. Results show that HfC nanowires wrapped by amorphous HfO₂ layer with ~10 nm in thickness display awl-like structure and the nanowire's surface exhibit prismatic geometry. The diameter of the nanowire decreases from the bottom (~500 nm) to the top (~100 nm). The growth mechanism of the awl-like HfC nanowires was mainly affected by the combination of bottom-type vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) and solid-liquid-solid.