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Growth and Mechanism of Network‐Like Branched Si 3 N 4 Nanostructures
Author(s) -
Peng Zhijian,
Zhu Na,
Fu Xiuli,
Wang Chengbiao,
Fu Zhiqiang,
Qi Longhao,
Miao Hezhuo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.03737.x
Subject(s) - materials science , nanostructure , nanometre , silicon , wafer , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , silicon nitride , pyrolysis , yield (engineering) , polymer , catalysis , optoelectronics , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
The high‐yield synthesis of network‐like branched silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) nanostructures by a simple template catalyst‐assisted pyrolysis of a polymer precursor, perhydropolysilazane, was reported. The templates were silicon wafers deposited with Fe films of 5–20 nm in thickness. The processes simply involved thermal cross‐linking of the preceramic polymer, crushing of the solidified polymer chunks into fine powder, and thermal pyrolysis of the powder under flowing high‐purity nitrogen. The collected white network‐like branched nanostructures are α‐Si 3 N 4 of hexagonal phase, and their microstructures, in which the diameters of each linear part of the network‐like nanostructure varied in a very wide range from tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers, strongly depend on the applied growth parameters, where the key factors are the heating rate and catalyst thickness for change in the diameters. It was proposed that the Si 3 N 4 nanonetworks were formed through “metal‐absorption on the surface of nanostructures” model by vapor–liquid–solid mechanism. The reaction mechanism of Si 3 N 4 nanonetworks was also discussed.