Abstract
Thermoelectric properties of p-type SiGe alloys prepared by a RF inductive furnace were investigated. Non-doped Si80Ge20 alloys were fabricated by control of the quantity of volatile Ge. The carrier of p-type SiGe alloy was controlled by B-doping. B doped p-type SiGe alloys were synthesized by melting the mixture of Ge and Si containing B. The effects of sintering/annealing conditions and compaction pressure on thermoelectric properties (electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient) were investigated. For nondoped SiGe alloys, electrical conductivity increased with increasing temperatures and Seebeck coefficient was measured negative showing a typical n-type semiconductivity. On the other hand, B-doped SiGe alloys exhibited positive Seebeck coefficient and their electrical conductivity decreased with increasing temperatures. Thermoelectric properties were more sensitive to compaction pressure than annealing time. The highest power factor obtained in this work was 8.89${\times}$10-6J/cm$.$K2$.$s for 1 at% B-doped SiGe alloy.