Thermoelectric power studies of polycrystalline materials of Sn/Nb substitu
ted Mn-Zn ferrites have been carried out. The Seebeck coefficient, carrier
concentration and drift mobility were evaluated. The Seebeck coefficient in
creases up to 420 K and 400 K for Nb and Sn substituted ferrites respective
ly. All the ferrites exhibited n-type conduction over the range of temperat
ure studied. At high temperatures, a non-degenerate type of semiconductor b
ehaviour has been observed. The conduction of these materials is explained
by hopping of electrons from Fe2+ to Fe3+, in addition to the existence of
narrow bands and localized levels. The variation of drift mobility is expla
ined by wavy bands [1, 2]. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.