Thermoelectric properties of Mg_2Si-based compounds synthesized partially using magnesium alloy

摘要

Mg_2Si compounds are promising eco-friendly thermoelectric materials because both constituent elements of Mg and Si have no toxicity and exist richly in earth crust. We have a plan to use the compounds in the applications that convert waste heat in the temperature range (600-900 K) into electric power. However, the thermoelectric performance of the compounds has not yet reached to the practical use level. In addition, the compounds don't have durability in the thermoelectric performance under atmospheric circumstances in the temperature range of 750-900 K. These issues have to be solved for the practical use. In our previous work, we obtained knowledge that Al doping in Mg_2Si lower the electrical resistivity and improved the thermoelectric performance. We newly attempted to use a magnesium alloy (AZ61) that includes the main three elements of aluminum (5.8-7.2 wt%), zinc (0.4-1.5 wt%) and manganese (0.15-0.35 wt%) in order to synthesize the Mg_2Si-based compounds. The Mg_2Si-based compound powders were synthesized from the mixture of silicon powder, AZ61 chips and Mg powder by the liquid-solid phase reaction method. The compound powders were sintered by the pulse discharge sintering method. The influence of mixing ratio of two metals of AZ61 and pure Mg on the thermoelectric properties was investigated. Addition of AZ61 greatly decreased the electrical resistivity as well as Al-doped Mg_2Si and the thermoelectric performance had improved most in the 50wt%AZ61 sample.