Synthesis of Al2O3 nanowires by heat-treating Al4O4C in a carbon-containing environment

A novel route was developed for the synthesis of Al2O3 nanowires by heat-treating Al4O4C via Si atom doping in a furnace with a carbon heater. The nanowires had dimensions of 20-60 nm in diameter and a few hundred microns in length, and were tunable by adjusting the heating temperature. Al2O3 nanowires exhibited a curved, or twisted, structure and the interface of the bending part had a defective microstructure. The study of their growth mechanism indicates that the Al2O3 nanowires grew by a vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) growth process.