Synthesis and characterization of polymer-derived SiCN aerogel

Synthesis and characterization of polymer-derived SiCN aerogels are reported. The wet pre-ceramic gels are synthesized via hydrosilylation reaction of a polysilazane with divinylbenzene as cross-linker using cyclohexane as solvent. Subsequently, the wet polymeric gels are dried using supercritical carbon dioxide for the removal of the solvent. The SiCN ceramic aerogels are obtained through pyrolysis in N2 at 1000 and 1500 °C. The ceramic aerogels show a low density (<0.1 g/cm3), high porosity (>90%), high specific surface area (>150 m2/g) and display a hierarchical pores size distribution which ranges from micropores to mesopores and small macropores.