Fabrication and characterization of amorphous SiBCN powders

A new approach in the synthesis of amorphous SiBCN has been suggested using high-energy shaker ball mill. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), graphite (C) and amorphous silicon (Si) were blended according to the mole ratio of 1:1:1, and then ball milled by different ball-to-powder mass ratio, diameter of ball and milling time. The structural evolution at different stages of milling has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). The results showed that the SiBCN powders were mainly amorphous with some nanocrystlline phases. The thermal stability of SiBCN powders has been analyzed by thermogravimetry in argon. Mass loss occurred at high temperature, especially above 1000 °C.