Oriented Silicon Carbide Nanowires: Synthesis and Field Emission Properties

Arrays of oriented silicon carbide (SiC) nanowires are synthesized by reacting stable carbon nanotubes—which act as both template and reagent—with SiO. Field emission measurements on the nanowires indicate that the arrays are excellent field emitters, technologically useful field emission current densities being produced at very low electric fields. The results suggest that the oriented nanowires may have potential uses in vacuum microelectronic devices in addition to more conventional applications as strengthening in composites (replacing SiC whiskers, which have lower elasticity and strength).