Flux synthesis and thermoelectric properties of eco-friendly Sb doped Mg2Si0.5Sn0.5 solid solutions for energy harvesting

Mg2Si0.5-xSn0.5Sbx(x = 0-0.023) thermoelectric solid solutions have been successfully synthesized by a facile and cost-effective B2O3 flux method in air. X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations confirm that the single-phased Mg2Si0.5-xSn0.5Sbx compounds have been obtained. The peak power factor of the samples reached 3.2 x 10(-3) Wm(-1) K-2 at 610 K for x = 0.017. The maximum ZT values of > 0.9 were reproducibly obtained at 780 K for x = 0.013, which are quite comparable with those of the state-of-the-art PbTe based thermoelectric alloys operated in the intermediate temperature range. The B2O3 flux method was also demonstrated to be effective for the batch production of Mg-2(Si, Sn) solid solutions.