A. Biswas; P.K. Sapkota; S. Kazibwe; S. Yang; M. Amiri; T. Terlier; M. Shaik; A.V. Rau; S. Chattopadhyay; M. Xu; J. Li
Advanced Functional Materials (2025) e25251
Ceramic composites exhibiting the combination of light‐weight, semiconducting behavior, low thermal conductivity, and solid‐state lubrication are crucial for advanced applications in electronics, thermal insulation, and wear‐resistant components, enabling efficient performance under demanding conditions. However, obtaining these functionalities simultaneously in a single material is nontrivial because these properties often require opposing structural and compositional features. Here, the synthesis of spark plasma sintered SiOC‐BN ceramic composite by combining amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) with crystalline hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) is reported. Comprehensive structural and microscopic characterizations confirm the existence of uniformly distributed h‐BN and cubic β‐SiC phases throughout the bulk material. The composite exhibits a p‐type semiconducting behavior with nearly isotropic electrical resistivity and low cross‐plane thermal conductivity at room temperature. Mechanical and tribological testing further reveal the excellent strength and solid‐state lubrication under high mechanical loads, with a low coefficient of friction. Comparative structure‐property correlations with individual SiOC and h‐BN ceramics highlights the synergistic effects of the combined phases, contributing to the composite’s properties. These findings show the potential of SiOC‐BN ceramic composite as a promising material for future technologies.