Organosilicon chemistry, polymer derived ceramic materials, and methods. Such materials and methods for making polysilocarb (SiOC) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) materials having 3-nines, 4-nines, 6-nines and greater purity. Vapor deposition processes and articles formed by those processes utilizing such high purity SiOC and SiC.

A method for producing silicon carbide directly from comminuted coal and a silicon precursor is described. The process includes coating comminuted coal with a silicon precursor and heating the silicon precursor coated comminuted coal to initially form polymerized preceramic silicon-carbon foam and then further heating to form silicon carbide foam.

A method for producing silicon carbide directly from comminuted coal and a silicon precursor is described. The process includes coating comminuted coal with a silicon precursor and heating the silicon precursor coated comminuted coal to initially form polymerized preceramic silicon-carbon foam and then further heating to form silicon carbide foam.

A method for producing a siliconized carbon foam with regions of silicon carbide directly from comminuted coal and particulate silicone resin precursor is described. The process includes blending a comminuted coal and particulate silicone resin and heating the blended mixture to form a siliconized carbon foam and then further heating to form regions of silicon carbide.

A method for producing a siliconized carbon foam with regions of silicon carbide directly from comminuted coal and particulate silicone resin precursor is described. The process includes blending a comminuted coal and particulate silicone resin and heating the blended mixture to form a siliconized carbon foam and then further heating to form regions of silicon carbide.

A porous silicon oxycarbide composite material comprises a porous silicon oxycarbide having a three-dimensional skeleton structure, and a carbon-containing material supported by the three-dimensional skeleton structure, wherein the porous silicon oxycarbide composite material has a BET specific surface area of 100 m.sup.2/g or more and an electrical conductivity of 1.0×10.sup.−6 S/cm or more.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

Compositions and methods directed to the synthesis and use of silicon carbide with, biomedical applications is provided. The method of synthesis includes providing a polydimethysiloxane (PDM'S) substrate, and irradiating at least a portion of the substrate with a laser under conditions sufficient to produce silicon carbide comprising 3C silicon carbide (3C-SiE). The composition can be used to modulate biological activity through electrical, chemical and heat stimuli.

Compositions and methods directed to the synthesis and use of silicon carbide with, biomedical applications is provided. The method of synthesis includes providing a polydimethysiloxane (PDM'S) substrate, and irradiating at least a portion of the substrate with a laser under conditions sufficient to produce silicon carbide comprising 3C silicon carbide (3C-SiE). The composition can be used to modulate biological activity through electrical, chemical and heat stimuli.

Provided herein are nanofibers and processes of preparing carbonaceous nanofibers. In some embodiments, the nanofibers are high quality, high performance nanofibers, highly coherent nanofibers, highly continuous nanofibers, or the like. In some embodiments, the nanofibers have increased coherence, increased length, few voids and/or defects, and/or other advantageous characteristics. In some instances, the nanofibers are produced by electrospinning a fluid stock having a high loading of nanofiber precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock comprises well mixed and/or uniformly distributed precursor in the fluid stock. In some instances, the fluid stock is converted into a nanofiber comprising few voids, few defects, long or tunable length, and the like.