Templating effect of hydrogen-passivated silicon nanowires in the production of hydrocarbon nanotubes and nanoonions via sonochemical reactions with common organic solvents under ambient conditions.

A new type of well-structured, hydrocarbon nanomaterial including nanotubes and onions, with interlayer spacing ranging from 3.4 to 5.8 A, was discovered by reacting SiNWs with common organic solvents in a laboratory sonicator under ambient conditions (room temperature and atmospheric pressure).

Formation of silicon carbide nanotubes and nanowires via reaction of silicon (from disproportionation of silicon monoxide) with carbon nanotubes.

One-dimensional silicon-carbon nanotubes and nanowires of various shapes and structures were synthesized via the reaction of silicon (produced by disproportionation reaction of SiO) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (as templates) at different temperatures. A new type of multiwalled silicon carbide nanotube (SiCNT), with 3.5-4.5 A interlayer spacings, was observed in addition to the previously known beta-SiC (cubic zinc blende structure) nanowires and the biaxial SiC-SiO(x) nanowires. The SiCNT was identified by high-resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM), elemental mapping, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The multiwalled SiCNT was found to transform to a beta-SiC crystalline structure by electron beam annealing under TEM.