Sugarcane peel-templated Si-Zr-Al-Y oxide ceramic materials with phase evolution thermal stability and low conductivity

The hierarchical porous architecture of sugarcane peel was successfully replicated using a biological template method. The samples were fabricated via a sol-gel process combined with ambient pressure drying, and the Si-Zr-Al-Y system integrated with the biomass template was pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 700 °C to 1300 °C to obtain Si-Zr-Al-Y oxide ceramic composites. The evolution of the microstructure and phase composition of the Si-Zr-Al-Y system during pyrolysis was systematically investigated. The incorporation of biomass templates facilitated the retention of a relatively fine mesoporous structure (6.88 nm) and low thermal conductivity (0.035 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹) up to 1100 °C, although pore coarsening and specific surface area reduction became evident at higher temperatures (1300 °C). Furthermore, the influence of processing temperature on specific surface area, pore size, and pore structure was examined in detail. This study not only establishes a foundation for future research but also provides insights into sustainable industrial waste management and contributes to global sustainable development strategies.