Ni–P–TiO2 composite coatings were deposited on brass substrates using a sol-enhanced electrodeposition method. The cyclic voltammetry tests were used to study the effect of TiO2 sol on Ni–P deposition. The surface morphologies of Ni–P–TiO2 deposits were observed, and their elemental analysis was also conducted. The systematic tests were performed to characterize the mechanical and corrosion behavior of as-prepared coatings. The voltammetric studies showed that the addition of TiO2 sol at 12.5 mL/L slightly promoted the Ni–P electrodeposition, while the excessive addition at 50 mL/L reduced it. The results showed that the in-situ generated TiO2 nanoparticles ([Formula: see text]15 nm diameter) could be highly dispersed in the electrolytic bath. The addition of TiO2 sol at 12.5 mL/L slightly promoted the Ni–P electrodeposition, while the excessive addition at 50 mL/L caused the opposite.

3C-SiC nanowires were synthesized using Si, SiO2, and active carbon as raw materials at different reaction temperatures without additional metal catalysts. The influence of reaction temperature on the phase assemblage and morphologies of the products were investigated by XRD and SEM. The experimental results indicate that a suitable reaction temperature is essential for the final products. When the reaction temperature was not high enough (1400 and 1450[Formula: see text]C), the raw materials were not reacted completely, and a small amount of targeted nanowires were formed. When reaction temperature increased to 1500[Formula: see text]C, the nanowires were mainly composed of 3C-SiC phase, and they were straight, curved, and needle-shaped. The straight nanowires ranged from several to tens of microns, but the diameters were not uniform. The vapor-solid mechanism dominantly governed the formation of SiC nanowires.