Large-scale synthesis and photoluminescence properties of SiC/SiOx nanocables

By using a simple and low-cost arc-discharge method in deionized water, high purity SiC/SiOx nanocables have been synthesized in large-scale. The synthesized SiC/SiOx nanocables consist of an uniform cubic beta-SiC core and an amorphous silicon oxide shell. They are about several hundred nanometres to several microns in length and the smallest average diameter of the beta-SiC core is only about 5 nm, which may be attributed to the are-discharge in deionized water approach and to the constraint of the outer sheath. The diameters of the as-grown nanocables can be controlled through adjusting the processing parameters. The SiC/SiOx nanocables emit stable violet-blue light at wavelengths of about 315 nm and 360-400 nm. Compared to the reported results in beta-SiC nanowires or nanocables, the photoluminescence of the synthesized nanocables shows significant blueshift, which is resulted from the small diameter of the beta-SiC core. The photoluminescence intensity can be enhanced by annealing the as-prepared SiC/SiOx nanocables.