An Efficient Method For Large-Scale Preparation Of High-Purity Alpha-Si3n4 Nanowires And Their Electrochemical Performance

An efficient and catalyst-free method for the large-scale preparation of high-purity alpha-Si3N4 nanowires was demonstrated by annealing absorbent cotton and silicic acid in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere. The pyrolysis of absorbent cotton generated a fluffy structure constructed by carbon microfibers, which could promote the growth of alpha-Si3N4 nanowires. The nanowires were characterized by XRD and XRD Rietveld refinement, SEM and TEM. The results indicated that the nanowires have diameters of 50-100 nm and lengths of tens to hundreds of microns. Vapor-solid (VS) mechanism was proposed to be responsible for the formation of nanowires. The alpha-Si3N4 nanowires were then applied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), exhibiting good rate capability and cycling property.