Polymer-Derived Silicon Oxycarbide Ceramics as Promising Next-Generation Sustainable Thermoelectrics

Kousaalya A. B., Zeng X., KARAKAYA M., Trit T., Pilla S., Rao A. M.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, vol.10, no.3, pp.2236-2241, 2018 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.1021/acsami.7b17394
  • Journal Name: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2236-2241
  • Keywords: polymer-derived ceramic, thermoelectric, h-BN, SiOC, free carbon, Seebeck coefficient, HEXAGONAL BORON-NITRIDE, THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY, ELECTRICAL-CONDUCTIVITY, CARBON, TRANSPORT, PRECURSOR
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We demonstrate the potential of polymer-derived ceramics (PDC) as next-generation sustainable thermoelectrics. Thermoelectric behavior of polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramics (containing hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as filler) was studied as a function of measurement temperature. SiOC, sintered at 1300 degrees C exhibited invariant low thermal conductivity (similar to 1.5 W/(m.K)) over 30-600 degrees C, coupled with a small increase in both Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity, with increase in measurement temperature (30-150 degrees C). SiOC ceramics containing 1 wt % h-BN showed the highest Seebeck coefficient (-33 mu V/K) for any PDC thus far.