Fabrication of ZnS/SiC nanocables, SiC-shelled ZnS nanoribbons (and sheets), and SiC nanotubes (and tubes)

Here we report on the synthesis of ZnS/SiC nanocables and SiC nanotubes and other relevant structures via a controllable two-stage thermal process using ZnS nanowires, nanoribbons, and sheets as templates. Within the cables, the ZnS cores are polytypes of fcc- and hcp-ZnS with similar to50-130 nm diameter, and the SiC shells are polycrystalline beta-SiC with similar to15-50 nm thickness. SiC nanotubes were formed through simple removal of ZnS cores from the cables. Room-temperature photoluminescence of the SiC nanotubes displays a strong green emission band centered at similar to517 nm. The nanostructures described herewith may be valuable in the blocks of advanced semiconducting devices. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.