Synthesis of Alumina Nanowires in a Cordierite Pore Structure by a CVD Process Using a Powder Source

We fabricated a composite cordierite pore structure with alumina (Al₂O₃) nanowires by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The Al₂O₃ nanowires were grown in a horizontal Al₂O₃ tube furnace by CVD using an aluminum (Al) powder source without the use of any catalysts at a temperature of 1200C and a pressure of 0.27 kPa. The source evaporation region was at the center of the furnace, and the nanowire deposition region was at the rear of the furnace. By the transport of evaporated species by a carrier gas, nanowires grew in the inner pores of the cordierite filter region at the rear of the furnace at 1200C, while nanowires did not grow in the center region at 1400C. We performed nanowire deposition as a function of the deposition time and determined the relationship between the deposition time and BET surface area.