SiC nanorods with a needle-like shape have been synthesized by carbothermal reduction of SiO at 1410℃, where the reductant is highly curled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) containing Fe nanoparticles approximately 10nm in size. Each SiC nanorod has a rounded Fe–Si single crystalline tip 120-250 nm in size and a sharp SiC tip approximately 10nmin size. Along the nanorod axis, the diameter decreases gradually from approximately 100 nm on the Fe-Sitip side to approximately 10nm on the sharp SiC tip. A revised vapor-liquid-solid mechanism from Wagner's mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the SiC nanorods.

Thermodynamic analysis was performed with respect to the effect of surface tension on the expansion characteristics of a one-dimensional nanoscale liquid Ga column inside a carbon nanotube. The analysis showed that the surface tension affects the column inner pressure, and that the smaller the column diameter, the greater the surface effect. Based on the analysis, it is quantitatively explained why a liquid Ga column with 75 nm diameter has virtually the same expansion coefficient as that of Ga in a macroscopic state in the range of 50 to 500℃, and suggested that the volumetric expansion coefficient can be directly used for the calibration of a given nanothermometer with a diameter larger than 10nm.

Ge3N4 nanobelts 30-300 nm in width were synthesized by thermal reduction of a mixed Ge+SiO2 powder in NH3 atmosphere. These nanobelts were studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscope equipped with an x-ray energy dispersive spectrometer. In these synthesized nanobelts, the existence of α and β phases of Ge3N4 was identified. The a phase exhibiting slight difference from an ideal α-Ge3N4 phase was also found in the present Ge3N4 material. The mechanism of formation of the Ge3N4 nanobelts is discussed.

A coupling model of pluralistic magnetic component R-T intermetallic compounds (R denotes rare earth, T denotes transition metal) has been proposed by means of the mean-molecular-field analysis. Using the model, the Curie temperature T, of (Sm1-x,Prx)2 Fe17 compounds has been cpmpared with the experimental values. It is found that the former are consistent with the later.

Indium-filled carbon nanotubes were synthesized via a simple chemical vapor deposition. The carbon nanotubes had diameters of 100-200 nm and length of; 10mm. The melting and expansion behavior of the indium in carbon nanotubes were investigated in an analytical transmission electron microscope. It was found that the melting and expansion behavior of indium were different from that in a macroscopic state. The melting behavior was explained using a particular equation developed for a nanoscale indium column. The analysis of the expansion behavior allows us to clarify the problems of indium filling usage in carbon nanotube-based nanothermometer.