Abstract
The thermoelectric properties of n-type β-FeSi2 doped with Cu were investigated. Mixture of Fe, Co and Si powders was arc-melted in an argon atmosphere to form a button composed of α-Fe2Si5 and ε-FeSi phase. The button was ground under 174μm and mixed with Cu powder. Then they were ground in a conventional ball mill for 360ks or a high energy ball mill for 72ks. β-FeSi2 compacts were obtained by hot pressing of MG powders at 1173K for 1.8ks under 25MPa. It was noted that Cu atom wasn't soluved in the β phase. Thermoelectric power αa increased with increasing Cu concentration and reached at a muximum at x=0.02 (Fe0.98CO0.02 Si2 Cux). The electrical resistivity ρ decreased with increasing Cu concentration. As the result, the power factor α 2/ρ was increased by Cu addition and have the maximum at x=0.02-0.04.
