Porous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramics show great potential for advanced energy-related applications, thanks to their high surface area coupled with adjustable porosity and electrical properties. Interest in materials for evaporation-driven hydrovoltaics—technologies that generate electricity through interactions with water—has spurred the search for materials that combine high surface area with balanced electrical conductivity, both essential for efficient energy conversion in such systems [1, 2]. While porous SiOC ceramics have been explored in catalysis and energy storage applications, their use in hydrovoltaic devices remains largely uncharted. In this study, we synthesized nanoporous SiOC ceramics using a triblock copolymer (BCP)-templated preceramic polymer (PCP) approach, varying PCP and BCP ratios as well as substrate temperature during drop-casting to tune the material’s porosity and microstructure. Scanning electron microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of tailored micro- and nanopores. However, a weak correlation between the pore structure and the reflection edge was observed, limiting the material’s intended photonic effects.

Conductivity measurements, meanwhile, confirmed the expected presence of free carbon in the SiOC microstructure, indicating promise for hydrovoltaic applications. Initial tests demonstrated substantial current generation when the material was partially immersed in deionized water, peaking around 400 nA and stabilizing to roughly 40 nA after one hour. These findings indicate the great potential of multiporous SiOC ceramics in evaporation-driven hydrovoltaic energy devices, particularly for applications in self-powered sensors and low-power electronics. Our results highlight SiOC porous ceramics as a new class of materials for sustainable energy systems [3].

References
[1] Colombo, P., et al. Journal of the American Ceramic Society 2010, 93(7), 1805-1837
[2] Sun, Z. et al. eScience 2022, 2(1), 32-46
[3] Wang, X. et al. Chemical Society Reviews 2022,51, 4902-4927