Formation of carbon nanotubes from a silicon carbide/carbon composite

The reaction of a SiC/C composite powder in an arcing plasma forms carbon nanotubes in good yield. Besides carbon nanotubes, a Si/C composite composed of β SiC covered with a shell of graphite is formed. The graphitic carbon surface layers of the carbon shell of this composite reacts further to form carbon nanotubes when heated to 600 °C. This process seems highly effective since only a small overall low weight loss, indicative for a complete carbon shell oxidation is observed by thermal analysis. The formation of the carbon nanotubes from SiC is unlikely since no SiO2 has been found when heating the SiC/C core shell composite to its reaction temperature of 600 °C under O2. The CNTs formed are of good quality with 3 to 6 concentric walls and high aspect ratio. Occasionally even single walled carbon naotubes have been observed.

Graphical abstractCarbon nanotubes have been synthesized by heating a crystalline SiC/C composite which is prepared from elemental silicon and carbon via a plasma arc process. The carbon phases which are mainly located on the surface of SiC are converted to single and multiwalled CNTs.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide