Synthesis and nanostructure characterization of carbon base hybrid ceramics derived from Si–H containing resin–alkoxide mixtures

Abstract Si–H containing thermosetting resin, poly[(phenylsilylene)-ethynylene-1,3-phenylene ethynylene] which shows high ceramic yield after pyrolysis, was modified with various metal (Ti, Ta, Zr, Si and Al) alkoxides. The modified resins were shaped to sheet form by solution casting and pyrolyzed at high temperatures to give amorphous materials with Si–M(metal elements in alkoxides)–C–O compositions. The small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis was performed to give nanostructure information on the pyrolyzed sheets, in which metal oxide particles are considered to be dispersed in carbon rich matrix. The size and distribution of particles derived from the SAXS pattern fittings depended on kinds of the used alkoxide and the pyrolysis temperature. For the practical application for these hybridized gel systems, the flow coating of precursor solutions on stainless steels were attempted. The coated layer on the substrate showed black and glassy surface with no obvious cracks even after pyrolysis at 1073 K with a coating thickness of 2–3 μm.