Formation of carbon nanostructures with Ge and SiC nanoparticles prepared by direct current and radio frequency hybrid arc discharge

Carbon nanocage structures with Ge and SiC nanoparticles were synthesized by direct current and radio frequency (dc-rf) hybrid arc discharge of C, Ge, and Si elements. High-resolution images showed the formation of Ge and SiC nanoparticles and nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanocapsules and nanotubes. The growth direction of the Ge nanowires was found to be 〈111〉 of Ge, and a structure model for Ge/C interface was proposed. The present work indicates that the various carbon nanostructures with semiconductor nanoparticles and nanowires can be synthesized by the dc-rf hybrid arc-discharge method.