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We report an ab initio study of the semiconducting Mg2X (with X = Si, Ge)compounds and in particular we analyze the formation energy of the differentpoint defects with the aim to understand the intrinsic doping mechanisms. Wefind that the formation energy of Mg2Ge is 50 % larger than the one of Mg2Si,in agreement with the experimental tendency. From the study of the stabilityand the electronic properties of the most stable defects taking into accountthe growth conditions, we show that the main reason for the n-doping in thesematerials comes from interstitial magnesium defects. Conversely, since otherdefects acting like acceptors such as Mg vacancies or multivacancies are morestable in Mg2Ge than in Mg2Si, this explains why Mg2Ge can be of n or p type,contrary to Mg2Si. The finding that the most stable defects are different inMg2Si and Mg2Ge and depend on the growth conditions is important and must betaken into account in the search of the optimal doping to improve thethermoelectric properties of these materials.

Lattice stability and formation energies of intrinsic defects in Mg2Si and Mg2Ge via first principles simulations