Synthesis of nanostructured silicon carbide films through spray pyrolysis of ball-milled silicon

Abstract

The structural and luminescent properties of nanocrystalline silicon produced by high-energy ball-milling of silicon were investigated. The as-synthesized, ball-milled silicon in hexane medium was characterized for material identification by X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that the free-standing nanostructured SiC film can be synthesize by employing a new route of spray pyrolysis of ball-milled silicon in hexane at 1000-1100°C. The results show that the micrometer-sized protrusion structures were obtained under high gas pressure by increasing the flow rate of argon gas inside the silica tube.