Cone-shaped hexagonal 6H–SiC nanorods

In this Letter, we report the synthesis of cone-shaped 6H–SiC nanorods by an arc-discharge process. The axis of nanorods is preferentially along the 〈1 0 1̄ 0〉 direction. The diameters of the thin tips are about 10–30 nm, and the lengths range from tens of nanometers up to 1 μm. Branched nanostructures are also formed and the branches form 60° or 120° angles with the main nanorods. The formation of gradually enlarged Fe–Al–Si–C droplets and their high-enthalpy have led to the growth of cone-shaped hexagonal structure SiC nanorods by a VLS mechanism.