Herein we present a study on polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)/graphite composites for a potential application as an electrode in high power energy storage devices, such as Lithium-Ion Capacitor (LIC). The composites were processed using high power ultrasound-assisted sol-gel synthesis followed by pyrolysis. The intensive sonication enhances gelation and drying process, improving the homogenous distribution of the graphitic flakes in the preceramic blends. The physicochemical investigation of SiOC/graphite composites using X-ray diffraction, ²⁹Si solid state NMR and Raman spectroscopy indicated no reaction occurring between the components. The electrochemical measurements revealed enhanced capacity (by up to 63%) at high current rates (1.86 A g⁻¹) recorded for SiOC/graphite composite compared to the pure components. Moreover, the addition of graphite to the SiOC matrix decreased the value of delithiation potential, which is a desirable feature for anodes in LIC.

In this work, we present the characterization and electrochemical performance of various ternary silicon oxycarbide/graphite/tin (SiOC/C/Sn) nanocomposites as anodes for lithium-ion batteries. In binary SiOC/Sn composites, tin nanoparticles may be produced in situ via carbothermal reduction of SnO₂ to metallic Sn, which consumes free carbon from the SiOC ceramic phase, thereby limiting the carbon content in the final ceramic nanocomposite. Therefore, to avoid drawbacks with carbon depletion, we used graphite as a substitute during the synthesis of precursors. The ternary composites were synthesized from liquid precursors and flake graphite using the ultrasound-assisted hydrosilylation method and pyrolysis at 1000 °C in an Ar atmosphere. The role of the graphitic component is to ensure good electric conductivity and the softness of the material, which are crucial for long term stability during alloying–dealloying processes. The presented approach allows us to increase the content of the tin precursor from 40 wt.% to 60 wt.% without losing the electrochemical stability of the final material. The charge/discharge capacity (at 372 mA g⁻¹ current rate) of the tailored SiOC/C/Sn composite is about 100 mAh g⁻¹ higher compared with that of the binary SiOC/Sn composite. The ternary composites, however, are more sensitive to high current rates (above 372 mA g⁻¹) compared to the binary one because of the presence of graphitic carbon.

Beyond conventional removal-efficiency metrics, this investigation reveals a mechanistic divergence between two prominent photocatalysts in ozone activation. Both (Pd/Cu) bimetallic g-C3N4 and rutile TiO2 enable efficient antibiotic degradation and antibiotic resistance genes inactivation; however, they rely on fundamentally different reaction pathways. (Pd/Cu)1%C3N4 predominantly generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), including singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radical anion (O2●–), whereas (Pd/Cu)1%TiO2 targets specific sequences like intl1 bypassing conventional ROS pathways. In addition, our research highlights a critical design trade-off and operational paradox in advanced oxidation processes: while a low bimetallic loading (0.1 wt %) optimizes the initial chemical degradation kinetics of both antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes during active treatment, a higher loading (1.0 wt %) is strictly indispensable for suppressing long-term bacterial regrowth and preventing the biological resuscitation of resistance markers during post-treatment storage. Moreover, this study challenges conventional methodological paradigms by demonstrating that diagnostic scavengers are not inert probes but reactive species that accelerate ozone (O3) depletion and alter mass-transfer behavior, potentially confounding mechanistic interpretations. In complex wastewater matrices dominated by dissolved organic matter, such competitive interactions necessitate rigorous scavenger validation to ensure reliable translation of laboratory findings to scalable purification systems.