Silicon oxycarbide glasses from gels

Silicon-oxycarbide glasses can be synthesized from modified silica gels through a pyrolysis process in inert atmosphere. A critical analysis of the literature suggests a close relationship between oxygen content in the gel precursors and the amount of carbon atoms covalently bonded to silicon atoms in the corresponding silicon-oxycarbide phase. The problem of the formation of a free carbon phase will be discussed and related to the amount of carbon in the starting gel. An example of successful synthesis of an almost pure carbon-rich oxycarbide phase will also be presented.