Characteristics of aluminum nitride nanowhiskers grown via the vapor–liquid–solid mechanism

Aluminum nitride (AlN) nanowhiskers were prepared by calcining an Al(OH)(succinate) complex, which contained a small amount of iron as a catalyst, under a flow of nitrogen and CO(1 vol%). The nanowhiskers, which were grown via the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism, have the following three characteristics. First, the diameters of the nanowhiskers are linearly correlated with the diameters of the iron droplets. Second, as revealed by the nanobeam energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectra, the nanowhiskers grow from the inside of the droplets, not on their surface. Third, the nanowhiskers have a tapered tip, which is formed as the reaction temperature is reached.