Synthesis and characterisation of medium surface area silicon carbide nanotubes

Silicon carbide nanotubes with medium surface area (30-60 m(2)/g) were successfully prepared by reaction between carbon nanotubes and SiO vapor according to the shape memory synthesis (SMS). The gross morphology of the carbon nanotubes was maintained during the carburization process. A calcination in air at 600 degreesC was performed to remove unreacted carbon domains in order to obtain pure carbon-free SiC nanotubes. The synthesized SiC nanotubes had a mean outer diameter of 100 nm and lengths up to several tens of micrometres. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.