A new route to monolithic macroporous SiC/C composites from biphenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane gels

Macroporous polysilsesquioxane monoliths have been synthesized from biphenylene-bridged alkoxysilane via the sol-gel transition and concurrent phase separation both induced by the polycondensation reaction. The obtained polysilsesquioxane gels have been subsequently converted to macroporous SiC/C composites by the carbothermal reduction. The SiC/C monoliths thus obtained involve no visible cracks and their porosity reaches as high as >90%. In addition, according to the nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement results, the micro- and mesopore characteristics of the samples did not undergo a significant change during the carbothermal reduction and the SiC/C composites have large specific surface areas owing to the microporous carbons in the skeletons. These composites therefore are more suitable for the applications to gas storage and catalyst supports compared to pure SiC.