To　improve　the　thermoelectric　properties　of　n-type　Bi2S3　materials,　a　certain　amount　of　SbCl3　were　added　into　Bi2S3　materials　by　a　conventional　melting　method　combined　with　plasma　activated　sintering　(PAS)　process.　The　Bi2S3-based　materials　evolve　from　the　lamellar-　to　particle-like　structures　after　SbCl3　doping.　The　phonon　scattering　has　strong　enhancement　through　the　increased　grain　boundaries　and　in-situ　Bi2S3　nanoprecipitates,　resulting　in　the　low　lattice　thermal　conductivity.　Meanwhile,　the　high　power　factor　is　achieved　because　of　the　marked　increase　in　the　electrical　conductivity.　Hence,　the　synergistic　effect　of　antimony　and　chlorine　substitutions　not　only　contribute　to　reduce　the　thermal　conductivity　but　also　tune　the　electrical　transport　properties,　yielding　a　peak　ZT　value　of　∼　0.65　at　773　K　for　the　Bi2S3-1%SbCl3　sample.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd