Conversion of a Polysilazane‐modified Cellulose‐based Paper into a C/SiFe(N,C)O Ceramic Paper Via Thermal Ammonolysis

Cellulose-based paper samples were surface-modified by a polymeric single-source precursor prepared from perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) and iron(III)acetylacetonate (Fe(acac)(3)) and ammonolyzed at 500 degrees C, 700 degrees C, 900 degrees C, and 1000 degrees C, leading to C/SiFe(N,C)O-based ceramic papers with in situ-generated hierarchical micro/nano-morphology. As reference, cellulose-free samples were prepared under the same conditions. Upon thermal treatment, the microstructure evolutions of the resulting ceramic paper and the reference sample were comparatively investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that for all temperatures, the ceramic papers exhibit the same morphology as the template, however, with noticeable shrinkage and curling, particularly evident at higher temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of the reference samples and the ceramic papers showed a similar crystallization behavior and phase evolution in both materials. In the ceramic paper, the crystallization process seems to occur at a later time. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the investigated C/SiFe(N,C)O-based ceramic system. It was shown that use of the cellulose-based paper template has the benefit of retaining the microstructure and furthermore, apart from transforming the cellulose fibers into turbostratic carbon, does not change the phase evolution during the polymer-to-ceramic transformation, allowing at the same time the manufacturing of novel morphologically complex parts by a convenient one-pot synthesis approach.