Nanodomain Structure of Carbon‐Rich Silicon Carbonitride Polymer‐Derived Ceramics

Abstract

The presence of nanodomains in polymer‐derived ceramics constitutes one of the most intriguing features of this class of materials. In the present work, the nanostructure of novel carbon‐rich silicon carbonitride (SiCN) ceramics synthesized via thermolysis of poly(methylphenylsilylcarbodiimide), –[Ph(CH 3 ) Si‐NCN] n –, at 1300°, 1500°, 1700°, and 2000°C is investigated by micro‐Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffractometry, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The structural information obtained from these experimental methods is combined together with theoretical modeling of the SAXS data to obtain a detailed model of the temperature‐dependent evolution of nanodomains comprised of free carbon, SiC, and Si 3 N 4 in SiCN‐based ceramics.