Facile thermal explosion synthesis and optical properties of Al-doped flatted 3C-SiC microcrystals with 4H-SiC quantum interlayers

► High-quality Al-doped flatted 3C-SiC microcrystals were in situ synthesized by a facile thermal explosion synthesis (TES) method. ► Structural and optical analysis reveals that one dimensional (1D) disordered regions, which structurally resemble wide band-gap 4H-SiC nano-interlays, are acquired and sandwiched in the 3C-SiC microcrystal matrix via Al doping. ► A new intensive, sharp ultraviolet (UV) photoluminescence is observed from the Al-doped flatted 3C-SiC microcrystals and the emission mechanism is discussed in terms of spontaneous polarization at the stacking faults.