Synthesis of Mg/sub 2/Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ thermoelectric compound by solid phase reaction

By two-stage solid phase reaction, a series of Mg/sub 2/Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ continuous solid solutions were successfully synthesized at low temperature (823 K) for the first time. The product was single-phased without any oxide or carbide and the particle size was substantially reduced than that of the raw powders. X-ray diffraction techniques were used to explore the products' phases and DTA to the changing tendency of heat quantity during the solid phase reaction. The influence of Ge substitution to Mg/sub 2/Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ was illustrated by the changes of lattice parameter and the existence of the complete solid solubility between Mg/sub 2/Si and Mg/sub 2/Ge was established, too.