Preparation and characterization of thermoelectric /spl beta/-FeSi2 phase dispersed with Si

Abstract

Heat treatment of a single phase of Fe-Si system produced eutectoid microstructures consisted of /spl beta/ and Si phases. The volume fraction of Si dispersoids, 0.1/spl sim/0.25 /spl mu/m in size, was controlled by varying Si content within the compositional range of /spl alpha/ single phase. The dispersed Si particles in the /spl beta/ matrix acted as effective scattering centers for carriers as well as phonons.