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Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2023, 12(11): 2041-2052 https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220806
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 20 November 2023

Single-source precursor derived high-entropy metal–carbide nanowires: Microstructure and growth evolution

Show Author's Information Junhao Zhaoa,  Yulei Zhanga,b( ),  Hui Chena,  Yanqin Fub( ),  Qing Miaoa,  Jiachen Menga,  Jiachen Lia
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Fiber Reinforced Light Composite Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
Henan Key Laboratory of High Performance Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites, Institute of Carbon Matrix Composites, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Keywords:
(Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires, high-entropy metal carbides (HECs), (Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta)-containing precursors, vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism
Cite this article:
Zhao J, Zhang Y, Chen H, et al. Single-source precursor derived high-entropy metal–carbide nanowires: Microstructure and growth evolution. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2023, 12(11): 2041-2052. https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220806
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Abstract Full text About this article

In recent years, high-entropy metal carbides (HECs) have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. The combination of excellent performance exhibited by bulk HEC ceramics and distinctive geometric characteristics has paved the way for the emergence of one-dimensional (1D) HECs as novel materials with unique development potential. Herein, we successfully fabricated novel (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires derived via Fe-assisted single-sourced precursor pyrolysis. Prior to the synthesis of the nanowires, the composition and microstructure of (Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta)-containing precursor (PHECs) were analyzed, and divinylbenzene (DVB) was used to accelerate the conversion process of the precursor and contribute to the formation of HECs, which also provided a partial carbon source for the nanowire growth. Additionally, multi-branched, single-branched, and single-branched bending nanowires were synthesized by adjusting the ratio of PHECs to DVB. The obtained single-branched (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires possessed smooth surfaces with an average diameter of 130–150 nm and a length of several tens of micrometers, which were a single-crystal structure and typically grew along the [1 1¯1] direction. Also, the growth of the (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires was in agreement with top-type vapor–liquid–solid mechanism. This work not only successfully achieved the fabrication of HEC nanowires by a catalyst-assisted polymer pyrolysis, but also provided a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting their yield and morphology, highlighting the potential application of these attractive nano-materials.


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About this article

Single-source precursor derived high-entropy metal–carbide nanowires: Microstructure and growth evolution

Show Author's information Junhao Zhaoa, Yulei Zhanga,b( ), Hui Chena, Yanqin Fub( ), Qing Miaoa, Jiachen Menga, Jiachen Lia
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Fiber Reinforced Light Composite Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
Henan Key Laboratory of High Performance Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites, Institute of Carbon Matrix Composites, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450046, China

Abstract

In recent years, high-entropy metal carbides (HECs) have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. The combination of excellent performance exhibited by bulk HEC ceramics and distinctive geometric characteristics has paved the way for the emergence of one-dimensional (1D) HECs as novel materials with unique development potential. Herein, we successfully fabricated novel (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires derived via Fe-assisted single-sourced precursor pyrolysis. Prior to the synthesis of the nanowires, the composition and microstructure of (Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta)-containing precursor (PHECs) were analyzed, and divinylbenzene (DVB) was used to accelerate the conversion process of the precursor and contribute to the formation of HECs, which also provided a partial carbon source for the nanowire growth. Additionally, multi-branched, single-branched, and single-branched bending nanowires were synthesized by adjusting the ratio of PHECs to DVB. The obtained single-branched (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires possessed smooth surfaces with an average diameter of 130–150 nm and a length of several tens of micrometers, which were a single-crystal structure and typically grew along the [1 1¯1] direction. Also, the growth of the (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires was in agreement with top-type vapor–liquid–solid mechanism. This work not only successfully achieved the fabrication of HEC nanowires by a catalyst-assisted polymer pyrolysis, but also provided a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting their yield and morphology, highlighting the potential application of these attractive nano-materials.

Keywords: (Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)C nanowires, high-entropy metal carbides (HECs), (Ti,Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta)-containing precursors, vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism

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Publication history
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Publication history

Received: 08 June 2023
Revised: 06 September 2023
Accepted: 09 September 2023
Published: 20 November 2023
Issue date: November 2023

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2023.

Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2021YFA0715803), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52293373 and 52130205), and ND Basic Research Funds of Northwestern Polytechnical University (Grant No. G2022WD).

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