| Abstract Scope |
Precursor-derived silicon oxycarbide (PDC SiOC) has received attention as a potential high-capacity anode material for Li-ion batteries. The polymer processing and pyrolysis route, which is a unique feature of PDC, enables chemical interaction with various nano-precursors and nanofiller phases to create low-dimensional composite structures such as fibers and coatings. In this study, electrospun fibermats were created by inducing buckminsterfullerene, or C60, into a hybrid siloxane polymer precursor as filler phase. The resulting fibermats were then subjected to heat treatment to produce SiOC ceramic composite fibers that were reinforced with C60. Different characterization techniques have confirmed the morphology and chemical evolution of the fibermats in their as-spun, stabilized, and ceramicized states. When used as self-supporting working electrodes in a Li-ion half-cell, the fibermats reinforced with C60 outperform the pristine C60, SiOC, and carbon fiber electrodes in terms of cycle efficiency, reversible capacity, rate capability, and capacity decay at high current densities. |