Formation of carbon nanocapsules with SiC nanoparticles prepared by polymer pyrolysis

Abstract

Carbon nanocapsules with SiC nanoparticles were produced by thermal decomposition of polyvinyl alcohol with SiC clusters at 500 °C in Ar gas atmosphere. High-resolution electron microscopy also showed the formation of carbon hollow structures such as nanoparticles, polyhedra, and clusters. The present work indicates that the pyrolysis of polymer materials with clusters is a useful fabrication method for the mass-production of carbon nanocapsules at low temperatures compared to the ordinary arc discharge method.