- From all of the above characterizations very consistent results have been obtained with the different employed techniques, XRD, HRTEM, and FTIR.
- According to them, in the fourth reaction step, a purely amorphous SiO2/C composite has been obtained from the SiO2 mixed with sucrose, as a source of carbon, H2SO4 and water, as it was intended.
- This amorphous carbon is more reactive for the next step of the process (carbothermal reduction) than a crystalline material like graphite, as pointed out by Cruz Fernandes et al. (1998).
- The use of a reactor specifically designed for this process, to allow a more uniform heating of the sample, is a requirement to increase reaction extent.