Science, Vol.287, No.5457, 1460-1463, 2000
Shaped ceramics with tunable magnetic properties from metal-containing polymers
A shaped, magnetic ceramic was obtained from a metal-containing polymer network, which was synthesized by thermal polymerization of a metal-containing organosilicon monomer. Pyrolysis of a cylinder, shape, or film of the metal-containing polymer precursor produced a Low-density magnetic ceramic replica in high yield. The magnetic properties of the shaped ceramic could be tuned between a superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic state by controlling the pyrolysis conditions, with the particular state dependent on the size of iron nanoclusters homogeneously dispersed throughout the carbosilane-graphitic-silicon nitride matrix. These results indicate that cross-linked metal-containing polymers may be useful precursors to ceramic monoliths with tailorable magnetic properties.
Keywords:RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION;POLY(FERROCENYLSILANES);<1>SILAFERROCENOPHANE;CARBONITRIDE;CONVERSION;PRECURSORS;PYROLYSIS;NITRIDE;ROUTE