Aloetic-shaped SiC nanowires: synthesis and field electron emission properties

Novel ordered aloetic-shaped SiC nanowires were synthesized on a Si (100) substrate by reacting methane with silicon dioxide using iron as a catalyst. Their structure and chemical composition were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The wires have a tapered aloetic structure with a top diameter about 50-80 nm and a length about 10 microm. The field emission properties of the aloetic nanowires were investigated. A stable emission with current density of 0.525 mA/cm2 at an applied electric field of 2.2 V/microm and a low turn-on electric fields of 1.4 V/microm were observed. The excellent field emission properties indicate that the aloetic-shaped SiC nanowires may have potential applications in flat panel displays and electron field-emitting devices.