The p-type Mg sub(2)Li sub(x)Si sub(0.4)Sn sub(0.6) thermoelectric materials synthesized by a B sub(2)O sub(3) encapsulation method using Li sub(2)CO sub(3) as the doping agent

This paper presents a facile synthetic procedure for p-type Mg sub(2)Si sub(0.4)Sn sub( 0.6) thermoelectric material. The B sub(2)O sub(3) encapsulation method was used for synthesis, and Li sub(2)CO sub(3) was used as the doping agent. These samples showed electrical conductivities and Seebeck coefficients comparable to samples doped with pure Li, but the MgO produced during the carbonate reaction had significant influence on the lattice thermal conductivity of the materials. A peak ZT similar to 0.7 was obtained in the Mg sub(2)Li sub(0.025)Si sub(0.4)Sn sub(0.6) sample.