Nanoprocesses in polymer‐derived Si–O–C ceramics: Electronmicroscopic observations and reaction kinetics

Abstract

Abstract Nickel acetate doped poly(methylphenylsilsesquioxane) with and without silicon filler loading was pyrolysed in argon atmosphere between 800 and 1500 °C. The ceramic residues were investigated with specific view of the nanoaggregates formed in pores during the polymer‐to‐ceramic conversion. After pyrolysis at 900 °C carbon nanotubes as well as nanowires with a crystalline SiC core and an amorphous SiO 2 shell were found in Si filler‐free and Si filler‐loaded samples, respectively. The evolution of the microstructure and the composition of these carbon nanotubes and SiC/SiO 2 nanowires were studied by HREM, SEM, EELS, EFTEM and evolved gas analysis. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)