Influence of Eu-doping on transport properties of synthesized zintl phase compounds Eu_xYb_1−xZn₂Sb₂ under microwave-assisted solid-state

In this work, synthesis and characterization of Eu_xYb_1−xZn₂Sb₂ (0 ≤  ×  ≤ 1.0) systems under microwave irradiation method. Herein, microwave technique offers ecological merit in the synthesis of thermoelectric materials such as short duration (25 min). The synthesized samples were analyzed by their XRD, SEM, EDX, Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and Hall voltage measurements. The microwave synthesis of compounds by doping Eu into YbZn₂Sb₂ and their properties are extensively discussed. It was found that the microwave irradiation acts to accelerate the reactions induced by fast heat surrounding susceptor of primary components and give large quaternary ingots. The XRD data revealed that the synthesized compounds crystallized in a hexagonal structure where ZnSb precipitated as a secondary phase in almost all the synthesized adopted compounds. Furthermore, a maximum PF of 26.27 μW/cmK² at 518 K was acquired for Eu_0.6Yb_0.4Zn₂Sb₂ sample with carrier concentration of 5.11 \(\times \) $\times$ 10²¹ cm⁻³ at 300 K.