Physical, Mechanical, and Structural Properties of Highly Efficient Nanostructured n- and p-Silicides for Practical Thermoelectric Applications

Cost-effective highly efficient nanostructured n -type Mg 2 Si 1− x Sn x and p -type higher manganese silicide (HMS) compositions were prepared for the development of practical waste heat generators for automotive and marine thermoelectric applications, in the frame of the European Commission (EC)-funded PowerDriver project. The physical, mechanical, and structural properties were fully characterized as part of a database-generation exercise required for the thermoelectric converter design. A combination of high maximal ZT values of ∼0.6 and ∼1.1 for the HMS and Mg 2 Si 1− x Sn x compositions, respectively, and adequate mechanical properties was obtained.