Synthesis of several millimeters long SiC–SiO2 nanowires by a catalyst-free technique

• Ultra-long SiC–SiO2 nanowires were obtained by an effective technique.
• The pyrolysis process of phenolic resin is critical for the growth of nanowires.
• This study supplies a method for in situ fabrication of NWs into composites.

In situ synthesis of ultra-long SiC–SiO2 nanowires were successfully conducted with the raw materials of silicon and phenolic resin by an effective and catalyst-free technique. Several millimeters long SiC–SiO2 nanowires with the diameters in the range of 50–200 nm were mainly composed of Si, C and a small amount of O, and the formation of several millimeters long SiC–SiO2 nanowires was attributed to a low flow rate and carbon sources supplied continuously by the pyrolysis of phenolic resin. A catalyst-free vapor–solid (VS) growth mechanism was proposed to illustrate the growth process of ultra-long SiC–SiO2 nanowires in present experiment, which provides a promising method for in situ fabrication of SiC–SiO2 nanowires as reinforcements into composites.