Synthesis of alumina nanotubes using carbon nanotubes as templates

Alumina nanotubes have been fabricated using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as templates at 1473 K. The Al2O3 nanotubes are polycrystals. They are less than 100 nm in outer diameter and tens of nanometer in inner diameter, which is close to the outer diameters of the templates. Under certain conditions, AlN and Al2O3 nanowires can also be fabricated in this reaction system. Discussions on the growth mechanisms of these nanotubes and nanowires are presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.