Improvement of porous silicon carbide filters by growth of silicon carbide nanowires using a modified carbothermal reduction process

Porous ceramics which contain nanowires are promising candidates for catalyst support applications. Here we report a cost-efficient carbothermal reduction process to produce a porous SiC filter with SiC nanowires in the honeycomb structure. For this, the mixture of SiO2 and carbon black was applied as a source of SiO gas. In addition, the SiC filter was coated with diluted phenolic resin to induce additional carbothermal reduction in the filter. beta-SiC nanowires were successfully obtained at and above 1400 degrees C. Surface area of the porous SiC filter increased from 18.72 to 54.51 m(2)/g by the in situ formation of the nanowires. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved