title: Carbothermal transformation of a graphitic carbon nanofiber/silica aerogel composite to a SiC/silica nanocomposite.
abstract: Carbon nanofiber/silica aerogel composites are prepared by sol-gel processing of surface-enhanced herringbone graphitic carbon nanofibers (GCNF) and Si(OMe)4, followed by supercritical CO2 drying. Heating the resulting GCNF/silica aerogel composites to 1650 degrees C under a partial pressure of Ar gas initiates carbothermal reaction between the silica aerogel matrix and the carbon nanofiber component to form SiC/silica nanocomposites. The SiC phase is present as nearly spherical nanoparticles, having an average diameter of ca. 8 nm. Formation of SiC is confirmed by powder XRD and by Raman spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee 37208, USA.
authors.forename: Weijie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Eve S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Steigerwalt
authors.forename: Joshua T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: W Eugene
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lukehart
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008956:Models, Chemical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011312:Pressure; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D002244:Carbon; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D012825:Silicon