Ultra-long Si3N4 nanobelts prepared by nanosilicon, nanosilica and graphite

The composition and morphology of obtained products depended on the processing atmosphere using the raw materials of nanosilicon, nanosilica and graphite, with N 2 -generating several millimeters long single-crystal Si 3 N 4 nanobelts (NBs) and Ar SiC nanobelts . The width and thickness of in situ NBs ranged from 100 to 300   nm and 50–100   nm with an average width of 196   nm, while the width and thickness of ex situ NBs fluctuated from 150 to 500   nm and 80–200   nm with an average width of 436   nm. Alumina-assisted VS mechanism was proposed for the growth mode of in situ growth of Si 3 N 4 nanobelts, while a combined mechanism involving VS and VLS was controlled the growth of Si 3 N 4 nanobelts obtained on the inner walls of the crucible due to the presence of Fe 2 O 3 , which provides an effective means of fabricating ultra-long Si 3 N 4 nanobelts on an industrial scale.