Through the infiltration of cellulose paper templates with suitable polymeric precursors and their subsequent pyrolysis, paper-like ceramic materials can be conveniently manufactured. While such polymer-derived ceramic papers (PDCPs) directly inherit the unique morphology of the cellulose templates, their properties are altered with respect to the ceramic system utilized. Therefore, the versatility and adaptability of the various polymer-precursors available is an attractive feature of this approach, paving the way for highly designable ceramic materials with easily accessed unique morphologies.

For this study, several PDCPs were prepared with varying synthesis parameters by dip-coating cellulose-based paper templates with two different polysilazane-based single-source precursors, each modified with one of three different transition metals.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses in combination with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as-synthesized ceramic papers. In addition, ultra-thin fiber cross-sections were prepared and investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and diffraction, allowing the in-situ generated micro- and nanostructure to be elucidated in great detail. Moreover, the transition from cellulose paper to a complex ceramic composite, keeping the intrinsic paper morphology intact, could be rationalized.

Based on the results, the effect of individual synthesis parameters on the microstructural evolution of the PDCPs is presented and discussed. Furthermore, different functionalization routes are explored and some potential application fields suggested.