Magnesiothermal synthesis of nanostructured SiC from natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and mesoporous carbon CMK-1

Magnesiothermal synthesis of nanosized SiC has been successfully achieved from a mixture of the natural zeolite clinoptilolite and a high-surface area mesoporous carbon CMK-1, synthesized by impregnating a mesoporous silica template MCM-48 with sucrose, followed by carbonization in argon and removal of the silica template. Magnesium powder was used to initiate the self-combustion reaction. Removal of the alkaline and alkaline earth exchangeable cations from the clinoptilolite by ion exchange with NH4+ was essential for a good yield of product, which is also dependent on the use of excess of carbon. TEM confirmed the nanostructure and size of the 15-25 nm SiC product crystallites.