Impact of Fluorination on Microstructures and Surface Properties of SiC Nanocomposites with SixCyFz Composition

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an effective catalyst for generating fuel from organics through gasification. SiC has shown promising results as a catalyst due to its extraordinary thermal and oxidation resistance abilities. Researchers are yet to identify an efficient silicon carbide composite material that enhances the desired quality of fuel/liquid production. The present study deals with in situ synthesis of fluorine-doped silicon carbide using agriculture waste. Biochar, a waste by-product from the gasification process, proved to be a potential carbon source for fabrication of silicon carbide nanowires (SiCNWs). Pristine SiCNWs exhibited nanospheres and freestanding nanowire (coiled, rods, bamboolike, or hexagonal prism) structures with transversal optical mode indexed to the β-phase (β-SiC). Fabrication of fluorine (F)-doped SiC from a silica-carbon-fluorine (SiO x /C y /F z ) precursor resulted in uneven flat-surfaced silicon carbide materials accompanied by progressive pore blockage with increasing F-content. Pore blockage was confirmed by declining the surface area from 60.70 m 2 g -1 of the lowest dopant to 17.33 m 2 g -1 of the maximum dopant, compared to neat SiC (63.20 m 2 g -1 ). Introduction of fluorine led to decreased silicon contents and collapsed nanowire while the carbon and oxygen contents increased.