SiC nanowires: A photocatalytic nanomaterial

Single-crystal beta-SiC nanowires coated with amorphous SiO2 were synthesized by a simple thermal evaporation technique. The photocatalytic activity of the SiC nanowires was characterized by measuring the photodegradation rate of acetaldehyde catalyzed by SiC as a function of UV irradiation time. It exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, leading to the efficient decomposition of acetaldehyde by irradiation with UV light. The progress of the photocatalytic reaction can be monitored by the evolution of one of the products, CO2. It has been observed that the as-synthesized SiC nanowires (with the SiO2 coating) have higher catalytic activity than the HF-etched, oxide-free SiC nanowires. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.