Synthesis and Microstructural Characterization of Barium Titanate Nanoparticles Decorated SiCN-MWCNT Nanotubes – “nanoNecklace”

Abstract

In this paper, we report synthesis and characterization of flexible polymer-derived ceramic silicon carbon nitride nanotubes decorated with barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles where multi-walled carbon nanotubes act as a template. The synthesis was achieved by controlled pyrolysis of polyurea (methylvinyl) silazane and BTO metal-organic precursor. Structural characterization by advanced microscopy techniques revealed 10–50 nm BTO nanoparticles uniformally covering the nanotubes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to confirm the BTO perovksite phase. Possible application of this novel structure—nanoNecklace—is in nanocapacitors (NCs) where high dielectric material BTO is arranged on SiCN layer.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors (V.B. and S.P.) would like to acknowledge the financial support from ARO and Office of Naval Research (ONR). G. Singh would like to thank Dr. Mitsu Murayama, Dr. Jerry Hunter and Dr. Bill Reynolds at the Nanomaterials Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory (NCFL) for the mini-grant and help with characterization work.

Communicated by Prof. Amar Bhalla