Mykola A. Skoryk

Structure and electronic properties of biomorphic carbon matrices and SiC ceramics prepared on their basis

Biomorphic carbon matrices (BCMs) were produced by pyrolysis from wood species of different forest and garden trees, after which the as-prepared BCMs were converted to SiC ceramics through their impregnation with liquid silicon and further heat-treatment. Both types of obtained samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman scattering (RS), and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods. The SEM data reveal that all BCM samples contain large (10–50 μm) and small (1–5 μm) micro-pores with surface densities ∼109 m−2 and 1011 m−2, respectively. Analysis of RS allowed to estimate carbon cluster sizes of about 5–11 nm depending on the sample type. The study of the electronic structure using ESR spectroscopy is carried out for BCM and SiC ceramics samples. Using theoretical analysis of the ESR spectra, it was found that spin resonance in BCMs is due to the contribution of three spin systems: free electron spins, “pseudo-free” electron spins from the tail of density states below the conduction band, and localized spins at dangling carbon bonds (DCBs). Their contributions depend on the ratio of different structural phases such as sp2-hybridized graphite-like carbon network and amorphous carbon phase. For most BCM samples, the large ESR line width is dramatically narrowed when samples are pumped out due to the exclusion of the broadening effect of molecular oxygen. The transformation of BCM into SiC by impregnation with liquid silicon can be clearly traced in the Raman spectra and in the ESR spectra. It is established that the electronic properties of synthesized SiC ceramics are due to the presence of residual graphite-like carbon nanoclusters.Biomorphic carbon matrices (BCMs) were produced by pyrolysis from wood species of different forest and garden trees, after which the as-prepared BCMs were converted to SiC ceramics through their impregnation with liquid silicon and further heat-treatment. Both types of obtained samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman scattering (RS), and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods. The SEM data reveal that all BCM samples contain large (10–50 μm) and small (1–5 μm) micro-pores with surface densities ∼109 m−2 and 1011 m−2, respectively. Analysis of RS allowed to estimate carbon cluster sizes of about 5–11 nm depending on the sample type. The study of the electronic structure using ESR spectroscopy is carried out for BCM and SiC ceramics samples. Using theoretical analysis of the ESR spectra, it was found that spin resonance in BCMs is due to the contribution of three spin systems: free electron spins, “pseudo-free” electron spins from the tail of density states below the conduction band...