Synthesis of SiC nanorods using floating catalyst

The beta-silicon carbide (β-SiC) nanorods have been synthesized by a floating catalyst method. Iron particles, decomposed from ferrocene vapor while being carried into the reaction chamber by the flowing gases, are very tiny. These small Fe particles act as catalyst to promote the growth of SiC nanorods in the SiCl4–C6H6–H2–Ar system at 1100–1200°C. The diameters of the β-SiC in the products are less than 100 nm, and the SiC nanorods with uniform diameters are single crystals with the stacking faults on the {111} crystal planes.