Preceramic Precursor Enabled Multifunctional High-Temperature Coatings

Multifunctional ultrahigh-temperature materials that combine oxidation protection, electrical stability, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are critical for harsh-environment electronics; however, maintaining functional stability at ultrahigh temperatures remains a major challenge. Here, we report a printable refractory-metal preceramic ink platform for multifunctional ceramic coatings in extreme environments. Transition-metal ions are molecularly cross-linked with preceramic chains to form printable precursor networks that are deposited onto graphite substrates and rapidly converted into refractory ceramic coatings through ultrafast thermal processing. During ceramization, the metal species react with B, C, and/or Si to form thermodynamically stable carbide, boride, or silicide phases, imparting high thermal and electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, oxidation resistance, and EMI shielding capability. The optimized coatings retain >98% mass, maintain stable electrical conductivity, and preserve EMI shielding after 60 s hydrogen-oxygen torch ablation. This molecularly engineered, printable-to-ceramic strategy establishes a scalable route to patterned, electrically functional, and oxidation-resistant ultrahigh-temperature materials for harsh-environment applications.