Free carbon phase in SiOC glasses derived from ladder-like silsesquioxanes

Abstract The main objective of this paper is to attempt to determine the structure of free carbon phase in SiOC glasses derived from ladder-like silsesquioxane precursors. The samples were fired in argon flowing atmosphere, in a wide temperature range (200–800° C). Conducted XRD, Raman, MIR spectroscopy research allowed to determine the structure of obtained materials. Combined XPS and Raman studies enabled to establishing the point of formation of free carbon in silicon oxycarbide matrix. Two most popular concepts were confronted with Raman and XPS results of free carbon phase in studied materials. This allowed to conclude that for temperatures below 800 °C carbon is present in a form of graphite domains inside glassy matrix.