From colloidal precursors to metal carbides nanocomposites MC (M=Ti, Zr, Hf and Si): Synthesis, characterization and optical spectral selectivity studies

We investigate the possibility to combine silicon carbide with transition metal carbide (MC) in a nanocomposite type structure in order to enhance the optical properties of this material. Metal carbides have been prepared starting from colloidal oxide, with carbon introduced by sucrose followed by the complete conversion from oxide to carbide at 1550 °C through a carbothermal reduction under Ar atmosphere. The optical properties of individual metal carbides (SiC, TiC, ZrC and HfC) were first evaluated through their room temperature reflectance spectra measured from UV-visible to IR region. Emphasis was placed on the TiC compound as well as in the implementation of nanoscale SiC/TiC composite with respect to their intrinsic and spectral emittance properties.