Lithium-Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Crystalline 3C−SiC Nanobelts

Silicon carbide nanobelts have been prepared by a reaction of CH 3 CH 2 OH, SiCl 4, and Li in an autoclave at 600 °C. According to X-ray powder diffraction, the nanobelts crystallize with the structure of 3C−SiC. Electron microscopy investigations have revealed that the nanobelts are usually 50−200 nm wide, 20−60 nm thick, and up to tens of micrometers long. Some unique optical properties are found in the Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence emission from the 3C−SiC nanobelts, which are different from previous observations of 3C−SiC materials. A possible lithium-assisted growth mechanism for the nanobelts was proposed.