title: A novel method for synthesis of α-Si3N4nanowires by sol-gel route.
abstract: Silicon nitride (Si3N4) nanowires have been prepared by carbothermal reduction followed by the nitridation (CTRN) of silica gel containing ultrafine excess carbon obtained by the decomposition of dextrose over the temperature range of 1200-1350 °C. This innovative process involves repeated evacuation followed by purging of nitrogen gas so that the interconnected nanopores of the gel are filled with nitrogen gas prior to heat treatment. During heat treatment at higher temperatures, the presence of nitrogen gas in the nanopores of the gel starts the CTRN reaction simultaneously throughout the bulk of the gel, leading to the formation of Si3N4nanowires. Thein situgenerated ultrafine carbon obtained by the decomposition of dextrose decreases the partial pressure of oxygen in the system to stabilize the nanowires. The nanowires synthesized by this process are of ∼500 nm diameter and ∼0.2 mm length. The product was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) spectra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Mahua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghosh Chaudhuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Rajib
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Manoj K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Gopes C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Siddhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
keywords: nanowires; sol-gel; α-Si3N4