Fabrication of aluminum carbide nanowires by a nano-template reaction

Large quantities of aluminum carbide nanowires have been prepared by the in situ synthesis of carbon nanotubes within Al powder and heat treatment of the obtained nanotube/Al powder. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, selected area diffraction, and X-ray powder diffraction have been used to characterize the heat-treated composite powders and the initial one. The results showed that the Al4C3 nanowires with diameters ranging from 7 to 25 nm and lengths ranging from 1 to 5 μm are single-crystal. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that growth of the Al4C3 nanowires occurs initially by the formation of a thin, uniform carbide coating and that further growth proceeds by inward growth of this coating with a concomitant consumption of the carbon nanotube until a solid Al4C3 nanowire is formed. Reactive wetting kinetics between nanotubes and Al were believed to be responsible for the growth mechanism of Al4C3 nanowires.