Scanning tunneling microscopy investigations of silicon carbide nanowires

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images have been obtained from the surfaces of silicon carbide nanowires produced in the thermolysis-induced carbonization of halocarbons (combustion synthesis). The morphology of the nanowires shows trench-like features perpendicular to the fibres’ axis, which is assigned to the existence of microfacets on their sidewalls. For the first time high-resolution STM images of the SiC nanowires are presented. The results are in agreement with the previous reports suggesting the presence of microfacets on the SiC whiskers’ surface.