Catalyst‐free in situ synthesis of ZrC nanowires with excellent thermal stability

Abstract No catalyst‐assisted zirconium carbide nanowires (ZrCNWs) were successfully synthesized by thermal evaporation and in situ reaction using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ZrCl 4 as carbon and zirconium sources. Vapor‐Solid (VS) mechanism was proposed to explain the growth process of ZrCNWs. The ZrCNWs prepared at 1400°C have a single crystal structure with the diameters of 130‐290 nm. The axial growth direction of ZrCNWs is [111] and the yield is 76.5 wt%. After heat treatment at 1700°C, 2100°C, and 2450°C, the diameter of ZrCNWs increased and their aspect ratio decreased. By simulating the thermal stress of a single ZrCNW, it is speculated that the coarsening and fracture of ZrCNWs are caused by the overall slip of the atomic layers and the stress concentration at the dislocations.