A method for forming a porous ceramic material, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a suspension of polymer-coated ceramic particles in a first solvent;
contacting the suspension with a second solvent, whereby a ceramic material precursor is formed from the polymer and ceramic particles,
heating the ceramic material precursor to at least partially decompose the polymer within the precursor into solid deposits, and
then sintering the ceramic material precursor to form a porous ceramic material,
wherein the step of heating the ceramic material precursor comprises
i) heating the ceramic material precursor under an inert atmosphere to decompose the polymer into the solid deposits comprising carbon deposits and then heating under an oxygen-containing atmosphere to partially remove the carbon deposits from the ceramic material precursor, or
ii) heating the ceramic material precursor under an oxygen-containing atmosphere to partially decompose the polymer into the solid deposits and then under an inert atmosphere to fully decompose the solid deposits into carbon deposits, and then heating under an oxygen containing atmosphere to partially remove the carbon deposits from the ceramic material precursor, or
iii) heating the ceramic material precursor in a sealed oxygen-containing atmosphere whereby the solid deposits are partially removed from the ceramic material precursor, preferably wherein the sintering is conducted once there is no oxygen remaining in the sealed atmosphere, or
iv) heating the ceramic material precursor in air at a temperature sufficient to cause at least partial decomposition of the polymer.