Si-based polymer-derived ceramics for energy conversion and storage

Abstract

Since the 1960s, a new class of Si-based advanced ceramics called polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) has been widely reported because of their unique capabilities to produce various ceramic materials (e.g., ceramic fibers, ceramic matrix composites, foams, films, and coatings) and their versatile applications. Particularly, due to their promising structural and functional properties for energy conversion and storage, the applications of PDCs in these fields have attracted much attention in recent years. This review highlights the recent progress in the PDC field with the focus on energy conversion and storage applications. Firstly, a brief introduction of the Si-based polymer-derived ceramics in terms of synthesis, processing, and microstructure characterization is provided, followed by a summary of PDCs used in energy conversion systems (mainly in gas turbine engines), including fundamentals and material issues, ceramic matrix composites, ceramic fibers, thermal and environmental barrier coatings, as well as high-temperature sensors. Subsequently, applications of PDCs in the field of energy storage are reviewed with a strong focus on anode materials for lithium and sodium ion batteries. The possible applications of the PDCs in Li-S batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells are discussed as well. Finally, a summary of the reported applications and perspectives for future research with PDCs are presented.

Recent advances in precursor-derived ceramics integrated with two-dimensional materials

“…Carbon-rich Si-based ceramics are regarded as one of the most promising types of anode materials due to their high charge/ discharge capacity and excellent thermal/chemical stability. [109][110][111] Combining such materials with 2D materials and regulating their microphase structure thus results in the preparation of materials with an electrochemical performance that can be optimized on different scales. 67,[112][113][114][115] SiBCN/graphene composites synthesised via different routes, including liquid dispersion (SiBCN/GN-ld) and solid phase blending (SiBCN/GN-sp), have been applied to prepare anode materials for use in Li-ion batteries (LIBs).…”

“…Carbon-rich Si-based ceramics are regarded as one of the most promising types of anode materials due to their high charge/discharge capacity and excellent thermal/chemical stability. 109–111 Combining such materials with 2D materials and regulating their microphase structure thus results in the preparation of materials with an electrochemical performance that can be optimized on different scales. 67,112–115…”

Polymer‐derived ceramics for electrocatalytic energy conversion reactions

“…It can be initiated by thermal treatment (200-400 • C), UV light, electron beam, 3D printing, or gas plasma. 42,44 Shaping and crosslinking is also important because it not only retains the shapes of the precursors but it also increases their ceramic yields due to the formation of a continuous network within the infusible precursors. Finally, the preceramic polymers are transformed into inorganic amorphous ceramics by pyrolysis processing at temperatures from 400 to 1400 • C. During the polymer-toceramic transformation, the pyrolysis atmosphere strongly affects the chemical/phase composition and the ceramic yield.…”

“…All these together make PDCs versatile materials for use in numerous key fields, including thermal/environmental barrier coatings, 32 ceramic matrix composites, 36 electromagnetic absorbing and shielding, 37 high-temperature sensors, 38 and biomedical components (Figure 2). 39 The development of PDCs for use in electrochemical energy storage technologies [40][41][42] F I G U R E 2 Schematic illustration of different processing techniques for achieving PDCs with different morphologies and their applications in various fields. (A) Reproduced with permission, 68 © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. (B) Reproduced with permission, 72 © 2015, Springer Nature.…”

Novel ceramic composites produced from coal discards with potential application in the building and construction sectors

“…The polysiloxanes (R 1 R 2 SiO) n , contains -Si-O-as the basic backbone or inorganic network with various side reactive and/or inert groups on the Si atom site. These polymers are ideal precursors for producing SiCO bulk ceramic, coatings, foams, energy storage materials, ceramic fibres, and ceramic matrix composites (Bernardo et al, 2014;Wen et al, 2022;Wen, Yu, and Riedel 2020). By blending a suitable coal discard dump of about 1Mt with a known quantity of PCP resin, following heat treatment, structural coal composites could be produced without generating secondary waste.…”