TiC Nanorods Derived from Cotton Fibers: Chloride-Assisted VLS Growth, Structure, and Mechanical Properties

In this work, single-crystalline TiC nanorods (NRs) were successfully synthesized via a simple, convenient, and cost-effective biotemplate method. Use of natural nanoporous cotton fibers as both the carbon source and the template for formation of catalyst particles significantly simplifies the synthesis process of TiC NRs. On the basis of the structural, morphological, and elemental analyses, a chloride-assisted vapor-liquid-solid growth mechanism and the corresponding growth model were proposed. The activation energy for the TiC NRs was calculated to be 259 kJ/mol. From in situ nanoscale three-point bending measurements, we also determined the Young's modulus of TiC NRs, which is an important parameter for practical applications. The measured Young's modulus of TiC NRs is in the range from 394 to 468 GPa with an average value of 432 +/- 22 GPa.