Polysiloxane Derived Macroporous Silicon Oxycarbide Microspheroidal Particles and Their Decoration with 1D Structures

Abstract

AbstractA simple method of synthesis for the macroporous SiOC spheroidal microparticles was developed. Preceramic polysiloxane macroporous microbeads were obtained by a one-step aqueous emulsion process involving poly(hydromethylsiloxane) (PHMS) with the addition of FeCl3·6H2O. Thermal treatment of these particles gave various SiOC materials depending on the pyrolysis temperature. Hierarchically porous spheroidal mezo-macroporous ceramers were obtained at 600 °C. Heating at 850–1000 °C gave SiOC ceramic spheroidal particles with about 60% open porosity. Ceramization at 1200–1400 °C led to the particles decorated with ceramic whiskers and wires. Heating at 1600 °C gave wires and spilled ceramic particles. These 1D ceramic structures were formed by a Vapor–Liquid–Solid (VLS) mechanism.