The thermoelectric performance of silicon carbide semiconductor made from rice hull

ABSTRACTThermoelectric properties (Thermoelectromotive force and electrical conductivity) of porous silicon carbide ceramics are evaluated. Porous silicon carbide ceramics are made from rice hull by reacting silica and carbon, both of which are included in rice hull, using hotpressing method[1].When nitrogen gas is used as enviromental gas for hotpressing, this material becomes n-type semiconductor. It shows comparably high themoelectromotive force. Thermoelectric properties of this material change with the processing conditions.The relationship between thermoelectric properties and microstructure is also evaluated.