Fabrication of aluminum carbide nanowires by a nano-template reaction

Large quantities of aluminum carbide nanowires have been prepared by the in situ synthesis of carbon nanotubes within Al powder and heat treatment of the obtained nanotube/Al powder. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, selected area diffraction, and X-ray powder diffraction have been used to characterize the heat-treated composite powders and the initial one. The results showed that the Al4C3 nanowires with diameters ranging from 7 to 25 nm and lengths ranging from 1 to 5 pm are single-crystal. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that growth of the Al4C3 nanowires occurs initially by the formation of a thin, uniform carbide coating and that further growth proceeds by inward growth of this coating with a concomitant consumption of the carbon nanotube until a solid Al4C3 nanowire is formed. Reactive wetting kinetics between nanotubes and Al were believed to be responsible for the growth mechanism of Al4C3 nanowires. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.