Synthesis of 3C–SiC nanowires by reaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste with SiO2 microspheres

• The 3C–SiC nanowires have been synthesized by reaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste and SiO2 microspheres as primary reactant.
• The recycling of PET wastes are fulfilled, and it is beneficial to the environment protection.
• Increasing information will decrease quality if hospital costs are very different.
• The prepared 3C–SiC nanowires have a good morphology.
• Other polymer wastes, such as PE, PP, PVC, and PS, can also be managed with this method.

3C–SiC nanowires have been synthesized by reaction of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste with SiO2 microspheres in supercritical carbon dioxide system at 650 °C for 3 h, followed by vacuum annealing at 1500 °C for 4 h. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopic, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, and High-resolution Electron Microscopy. The 3C–SiC nanowires are tens of microns in length and 30–150 nm in diameter. It is found that the reaction forming 3C–SiC nanowires take place in the inner of the carbon microspheres generated from PET. The formation mechanism of the 3C–SiC nanowires was discussed.