Large-scale synthesis of SiC/PyC core-shell structure nanowires via chemical liquid-vapor deposition

In carbon/carbon (C/C) composites, SiC/PyC core-shell structure nanowires were successfully fabricated via chemical liquid-vapor deposition (CLVD). The influences of heat-treatment temperature on the microstructure and composition of SiC nanowires were studied, and meanwhile the growth mechanism of SiC nanowires was discussed. Additionally, the microstructure and morphology of SiC/PyC core-shell structure nanowires were also investigated. The results displayed that the low heat-treatment temperature could not meet the requirements of SiC nanowires growth, but the too high temperature made the nanowires appear agglomerate easily. Only when the heat-treatment temperature was 1800 °C, SiC nanowires possessed a uniform distribution. The diameter of SiC nanowire was about 300 nm, and there was a SiO₂ layer with the thickness of about 1 nm existing on the surface of SiC nanowire. The growth behavior of SiC nanowire was governed by vapor-solid (V–S) mechanism. After the PyC deposition, SiC/PyC core-shell structure nanowires were constructed, and the nanowires were about 450 nm in diameter. These nanowires displayed a core-shell structure with three layers, which were SiC nanowire core, SiO₂ interlayer and PyC shell, respectively. Meanwhile, SiC/PyC core-shell structure nanowires connected the matrices with each other, and the core-shell structure nanowires generated a stable network.