Influence of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on phase development and porosity of SiOC/rGO ceramic composites

Abstract Ceramic materials based on silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were produced by polymer pyrolysis and evaluated in terms of phase development and porosity. Carbonaceous phase, initially prepared from graphite oxide, was incorporated into silicone dihydroxy terminated in different amounts (0, 5, 15 and 25 wt%) and submitted to pyrolysis at 1500 °C to obtain SiOC/rGO ceramics. Higher ceramic yields and more thermally stable materials were obtained after rGO addition, whose results were associated to the chemical interaction degree between rGO and polymer structure. Cgraphite and SiC phases were generated in rGO-containing ceramics and a mixture of α- and β-SiC was achieved from 15 wt% rGO, enhancing their crystallinity with increasing of rGO content. Porosity features were influenced by the carbonaceous phase amount and different rGO-polymer interaction degrees. SiOC/rGO ceramics demonstrated desirable structural characteristics for future investigations in electrical and/or electrochemical applications.