Synthesis and characterization of monolithic carbon/silicon carbide composite aerogels

Resorcinol–formaldehyde/silica composite (RF/SiO2) aerogels were synthesized using sol–gel process followed by supercritical CO2 drying. Monolithic carbon/silicon carbide composite (C/SiC) aerogels were formed from RF/SiO2 aerogels after carbothermal reduction. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy demonstrate that β-SiC was obtained after carbothermal reduction. Scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption/desorption reveal that the as-prepared C/SiC aerogels are typical mesoporous materials. The pore structural properties were measured by nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. The resulting C/SiC aerogels possess a BET surface area of 564 m2/g, a porosity of 95.1 % and a pore volume of 2.59 cm3/g. The mass fraction of SiC in C/SiC aerogels is 31 %.