Topic: Polymer-derived ultra-high temperature ceramics and their related materials

Lecturer: Riedel Ralf, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany

Time: December 4th, 2025, 9:00, UTC+8

Venue: Conference Room, 10th Floor, Yifu Building

Biography: Professor Riedel Ralf is a world-renowned leading scholar in the field of ceramics. He received his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Stuttgart in 1986, followed by postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Metals. In 1993, he joined the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) as a Full Professor of Materials Science. He is an Academician of the World Academy of Ceramics, as well as a Fellow of The American Ceramic Society, The European Ceramic Society, and the Engineering Academy of The University of Tokyo. Additionally, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of Journal of the American Ceramic Society, International Journal of Ceramics, and Nature Partner Journal Advanced Manufacturing.

His research focuses on the molecular design and synthesis of advanced ceramics for ultra-high temperature and energy applications, as well as the exploration of new materials under extreme conditions (particularly ultra-high pressure). For his outstanding contributions, he has been awarded numerous prestigious honors, including the Gold Medal of Merit in Natural Sciences, the International Basic Science Award of the World Academy of Ceramics, and the Gustav-Tammann-Preis of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde (DGM). He also holds honorary professorships at Tianjin University, Xiamen University, and Zhengzhou University, and a visiting professorship at The University of Tokyo.

Abstract: Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are an emerging class of materials capable of maintaining structural stability and achieving efficient heat dissipation in extreme environments (such as high heat flux and chemically reactive plasma conditions). In recent years, significant progress has been made in the optimization of physical properties and preparation processes in this field. Among various synthesis routes, the approach using polymer-derived ceramic precursors has attracted widespread attention in academia due to its advantages, including precise control of material composition, formation of nanostructured morphologies, and improved sintering performance. This liquid-phase synthesis technology opens new avenues for the preparation of UHTC composites and their applications in additive manufacturing. This lecture will focus on the physical and energy-related properties of UHTCs, and systematically review various polymer precursor-based synthesis methods and their application prospects in the fabrication of UHTCs and related materials (such as silicon-containing nanocomposites).

Rewritten by: Lin Qiaochu

Edited by: Li Huihui, Li Tiantian

Source: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology For Materials Synthesis and Processing