| Abstract Scope |
Morphological control of particles in nanomaterials engineering enables precise tailoring of properties to meet specific performance requirements. This approach is critical for ultra-high temperature refractory ceramics such as HfC and ZrC, which possess exceptional properties (including high elastic modulus, hardness, and melting point), making them suitable for aerospace and nuclear applications in extreme environments. However, irregular morphology in commercial carbide powders impairs processing and sintering behavior. Transition metal (TM) dopants create faceted particles that can improve powder consolidation and mechanical performance. In this study, we employed solvothermal synthesis to fabricate doped Hf/Zr<sub>1-<i>x</i></sub>TM<sub><i>x</i></sub>C (TM = Ni, Ti, Fe, Zn, Co) powders with controlled faceted particle morphology. X-ray diffraction together with scanning electron microscopy revealed that low dopant concentrations (x = 0.05 and 0.15) achieved cubic morphology, with Co and Ni showing the most pronounced effects, establishing strategic doping as an effective approach for processability enhancement. |