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We demonstrate the synthesis and electrochemical performance of polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide–carbon nanotube (SiOC–CNT) composites as a stable lithium intercalation material for secondary battery applications. Composite synthesis was achieved through controlled thermal decomposition of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl 1,3,5,7-tetravinyl cyclotetrasiloxane (TTCS) precursor on carbon nanotubes surfaces that resulted in formation of shell/core type ceramic SiOC–CNT architecture. Li-ion battery anode (prepared at a loading of ∼1.0 mg cm–2) showed stable charge capacity of 686 mA h g–1 even after 40 cycles. The average Coulombic efficiency (excluding the first cycle loss) was 99.6%. Further, the post electrochemical imaging of the dissembled cells showed no apparent damage to the anode surface, highlighting improved chemical and mechanical stability of these composites. A similar trend was observed in the rate capability tests, where the SiOC–CNT anode (with 5 wt % loading in TTCS) again showed stable performance, co...

We study the laser irradiance behavior and resulting structural evolution of polymer-derived silicon-boron-carbonitride (Si(B)CN) functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite spray coatings on copper substrate. We report a damage threshold value of 15 kWcm(-2) and an optical absorbance of 0.97 after irradiation. This is an order of magnitude improvement over MWCNT (1.4 kWcm(-2), 0.76), SWCNT (0.8 kWcm(-2), 0.65) and carbon paint (0.1 kWcm(-2), 0.87) coatings previously tested at 10.6 μm (2.5 kW CO2 laser) exposure. Electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests partial oxidation of Si(B)CN forming a stable protective SiO2 phase upon irradiation.

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) are of interest due to their unique multifunctional properties. CNTs, however, tend to lose their well-defined structure and geometry at about 400°C in air. PDCs on the other hand are structureless in X-ray diffraction but show high chemical and thermal stability in air (up to ~1400°C). Herein, we demonstrate synthesis of a composite nanowire structure consisting of polymer-derived silicon boron-carbonitride (Si–B–C–N) shell with a multiwalled carbon nanotube core. This was achieved through a novel process involving preparation of a boron-modified liquid polymeric precursor through a reaction of trimethyl borate and poly (ureamethylvinyl) silazane under normal conditions; followed by conversion of polymer to ceramic on carbon nanotube surfaces through controlled heating. Chemical structure of the polymer was studied by liquid-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) while evolution of various ceramic phases was studied by solid-NMR, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction confirm presence of amorphous Si(B)CN coating on individual nanotubes for all specimens processed below 1400°C. Thermogravimetric analysis, followed by Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed high temperature stability of the carbon nanotube core in flowing air up to 1000°C.

The authors demonstrate the synthesis of a freestanding composite paper consisting of polymer-derived ceramic Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) functionalized carbon nanotube (CNT) network. The paper is prepared by vacuum filtration of CNT followed by drop coating of tetramethyl tetravinylcyclotertrasiloxane polymer on its surface. The polymer coating on the CNT paper is then transformed to silicon oxycarbide ceramic by controlled heating. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a uniform and compact CNT paper surface with thickness of ∼225 μm. An X-ray diffraction spectrum of the composite paper highlight the amorphous nature of ceramic coating surrounding the CNTs. The authors further demonstrate the use of this paper as an independent anode material in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and thereby, simplifying the anode design by eliminating the binder, conductive additives and current collector metal. The composite paper anode weighs ∼37% less than those made by using conventional copper substrates. Electrochemical performance of the SiOC–CNT composite anode studied by initial galvanostatic cycles shows a high discharge capacity of 1168 mAh/g and 13 mAh/cm2 with first cycle loss of 53·8%.

We study the electrochemical behavior of precursor-derived siliconboron carbonitride (Si(B)CN) ceramic and Si(B)CN coated-multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) composite as a lithium-ion battery anode. Reversible capacity of Si(B)CN was observed to be 138 mA h/g after 30 cycles, which is four times that of SiCN (∼25 mA h/g) processed under similar conditions, while the Si(B)CN-CNT composite showed further enhancement demonstrating 412 mA h/g after 30 cycles. Improved performance of Si(B)CN is attributed to the presence of boron that is known to modify SiCN’s nanodomain structure resulting in improved chemical stability and electronic conductivity. Post-cycling microscopy and chemical analysis of the anode revealed formation of a stable passivating layer, which resulted in stable cycling.

We demonstrate synthesis of a polymer-derived ceramic (PDC)-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite using microwave irradiation at 2.45 GHz. The process takes about 10 min of microwave irradiation for the polymer-to-ceramic conversion. The successful conversion of polymer coated carbon nanotubes to ceramic composite is chemically ascertained by Fourier transform-infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and physically by thermogravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscopy characterization. Frequency dependent dielectric measurements in the S-Band (300 MHz to 3 GHz) were studied to quantify the extent of microwave–CNT interaction and the degree of selective heating available at the MWCNT-polymer interface. Experimentally obtained return loss of the incident microwaves in the specimen explains the reason for heat generation. The temperature-dependent permittivity of polar molecules further strengthens the argument of internal heat generation.