Synthesis of bamboo-like 3C-SiC nanowires with good luminescent property via nano-ZrO2 catalyzed chemical vapor deposition technique

Abstract This work provides a novel chemical vapor deposition technique to synthesize bamboo-like 3C-SiC nanowires (NWs) at low temperature (1200 °C) in absence of Ar gas by Si and phenolic resin powders, and catalyzed by trace nano-ZrO2 particles. The obtained bamboo-like 3C-SiC NWs were dozens of microns in length and composed of two alternating structure units with periodical fluctuating diameter, and the diameters of nodes and stems were 50–70 nm and 40–50 nm, respectively. Nano ZrO2 catalyst was key factor for SiC NWs formation and growth because ZrO2 triggered reactions to generate more SiO(g) and CO(g), and activated SiO (g) and CO (g) by weakening Si–O and C–O bond strength. The reciprocal formation of ZrC and ZrO2 occurred repeatedly led to SiC growing into bamboo-like NWs. The bamboo-like SiC NWs have good violent-blue luminescent property.