Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Disordering and the electronic transport behaviors of NbC–Al4C3–C composite

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A composite nanomaterial composed of NbC nanocrystals, Al4C3 nanorods and carbon nanofibers as well as amorphous carbon was fabricated by arc-discharging a Nb3Al block as an anode in CH4 gas. The growth process of the NbC–Al4C3–C composite was deduced according to the microstructures of its components and the experimental conditions. NbC nanocrystals with non-stoichiometric chemical composition were in a cubic shape. As the decomposition product of the precursor of CH4 gas, carbon nanofibers were thought to be as templates, reacting with Al atoms, to form Al4C3 nanorods with a diameter of 15–40 nm. A thin layer of aluminum carbide oxide covered the surface of Al4C3 nanorods. The temperature dependence of the resistivity for the NbC–Al4C3–C composite was described by the variable-range-hopping (VRH) model between about 100 K and 300 K because of the strong localization of electrons by disorder in the carbon matrix. Below 100 K, the transport behaviors of the pellet deviated from the VRH model due to the conduction competition between the semi-conducting carbon matrix and metallic NbC nanocrystals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Iijima S (1991) Nature 354:56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ebbesen TW, Ajayan PM (1992) Nature 358:220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Huang MH, Mao S, Feick H, Yan HQ, Wu YY, Kind H, Weber E, Russo R, Yang PD (2001) Science 292:1897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hu J, Odom TW, Lieber CM (1999) Acc Chem Res 32:435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dekker C (1999) Phys Today 52:22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fukunaga A, Chu S, McHenry ME (1999) J Mater Sci Lett 18:431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fukunaga A, Chu SY, McHenry ME (1998) J Mater Res 13:2465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Shi L, Gu YL, Chen LY, Yang ZH, Ma JH, Qian YT (2005) Carbon 43:211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wu HQ, Wei XW, Shao MW, Gu JS (2004) J Cryst Growth 265:184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wu HQ, Wei XW, Shao MW, Gu JS (2002) Chem Phys Lett 364:152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang HF, Dohnalkova AC, Wang CM, Young JS, Buck EC, Wang LS (2002) Nano Lett 2:105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Li D, Li WF, Ma S, Zhang ZD (2006) Phys Rev B 73:193402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dong XL, Zhang ZD, Chuang YC, Jin SR (1999) Phys Rev B 60:3017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang ZD, Yu JL, Zheng JG, Skorvanek I, Kovac J, Dong XL, Li ZJ, Jin SR, Yang HC, Guo ZJ, Liu W, Zhao XG (2001) Phys Rev B 64:024404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Pechen EV, Krasnosvobodtsev SI, Shabanova NP, Ekimov EV, Varlashkin AV, Nozdrin VS, Tschovrebov AM, Golovashkin AI (1994) Physics C 235–240:2511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Storms EK (1967) The refractory carbides. Academic Press, New York, NY, p 65

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang ZX (1979) Handbook of physical constants. Beijing, Science Press, p 84 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Geng DY, Zhang ZD, Zhang WS, Si PZ, Zhao XG, Liu W, Hu KY, Jin ZX, Song XP (2003) Scr Mater 48:593

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Woodford J, Chang YA (1998) Metall Mater Trans A 29:2717

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cotton FA, Wilkinson G (1988) Advanced inorganic chemistry, 5th edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mott NF (1970) Phil Mag 22:7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work has been supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant numbers No. 50332020 and No. 50171070.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research and International Center for Materials Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, P.R. China

    D. Li, S. Ma, W. F. Li, B. Wu & Z. D. Zhang

Authors
  1. D. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. F. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Z. D. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, D., Ma, S., Li, W.F. et al. Disordering and the electronic transport behaviors of NbC–Al4C3–C composite. J Mater Sci 42, 6929–6934 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1330-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1330-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation