Seebeck coefficient in multiphase thin films

Mg-Ag-Sb thin films were deposited by magnetron sputtering using a commercial Mg1/3Ag1/3Sb1/3 target. All the films contain principally the two phases Ag3Sb and alpha-MgAgSb in same proportions but exhibit different microstructures. The films have the same Seebeck coefficient despite the difference of interface density and structure. Theoretical calculations show that the film effective Seebeck coefficient S-film, is depending only on the volume of each phase present in the film and their Seebeck coefficients. The multiple interfaces between the different phases have no effect on S-film . (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.