AVS 59th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition
    Energy Frontiers Focus Topic Thursday Sessions
       Session EN-ThP

Paper EN-ThP5
Growth Methods and Applications of SiC Nanopowder and Nanowhiskers

Thursday, November 1, 2012, 6:00 pm, Room Central Hall

Session: Energy Frontiers Poster Session
Presenter: R. Dhiman, University of Southern Denmark
Authors: R. Dhiman, University of Southern Denmark
E. Johnson, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
P.K. Kristensen, Aalborg University, Denmark
P. Morgen, University of Southern Denmark
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Nanomaterials have in a number of cases shown physical and chemical properties differing from their macroscopic counterparts. These differences can be tailored through form and size of the nanostructured materials, related to the restriction of the electronic degrees of freedom in one-, two-, or three dimensions. In this study, nanoporous SiC has been produced through reactions at high temperatures between carbon nanoparticles and SiO gas, while SiC nanowhiskers are made from saw dust impregnated with TEOS, reacting at high temperatures in a complex set of reactions to produce SiC clusters with a high concentration of SiC nanowhiskers sticking out perpendicularly from planar areas on the clusters. After suitable separation and extraction procedures individual crystals or whiskers may be handled and studied, with SEM and TEM methods. The SiC nanopowderis successfully applied as support material for Pt nanoparticles in the fuel cell technology, while the individual whiskers show very interesting mechanical properties and one-dimensional semiconductor properties. They are also currently used, in agglomerate form, as a very stable and inert type of binder material for new water-electrolysis active membrane systems.