SYNTHESIS OF TANTALUM CARBIDE NANOFIBRES IN MOLTEN SALTS USING CARBON NANOTUBES AS A REACTIVE TEMPLATE

摘要

Tantalum carbide nanofibres of varying morphologies were synthesised using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) of different morphologies as reactive templates in a mixture of molten salts composed of potassium chloride, lithium chloride and potassium fluoride along with pure tantalum powder at 950℃. The product was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analyses. Tantalum carbide nanofibres with polycrystalline structures were formed. The polycrystalline tantalum carbide nanofibres are either entangled or straight and have a similar morphology to their precursor MWNTs. This novel method presents possibilities for the controllable preparation of tantalum carbide materials with various morphologies, sizes and microstuctures using a variety of carbon sources.