Effect of heating duration on the morphology, composition and optical properties of SiC nanomaterials synthesized by microwaves heating

Abstract

Silicon carbide nanomaterials has recently drawn an attention of industrial interest due to their excellent mechanical properties especially for silicon carbide nanowhiskers (SiCNWs) which is high thermal stability, good chemical inertness and excellent electronic properties. In this paper, a synthesis of SiC nanomaterials by microwave heating of blends of silica and nanographite was presented. The effect of heating duration with 20, 40 and 60 minutes on the synthesis process was also reported. The silica and nanographite with ratio 1:3 were mixed homogenously using ultrasonic bath for 1 hour using ethanol as liquid medium. The blends were then dried on hotplate about 1 hour to remove ethanol and then compressed to pellets form. Synthesis by microwave heating then proceed with heating temperature 14000. X-ray diffraction revealed that SiC nanomaterial was detected for samples synthesized at 40 and 60 minutes heating duration. SEM images showed that SiCNWs form at 40 and 60 minutes heating duration. Energy dispersive x-ray spectra showed the higher peak corresponding to Si at duration 60 minutes. Photoluminescence spectroscopy showed the presence SiC peak at wavelength 414 nm and energy band gap was 2.30 eV. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the absorption band of Si-C bond was detected at wavelength 794 cm-1 to 800 cm-1.