Abstract: Si-clathrate compounds,n-type Ba8Ga16ZnxSi30-x(x=0,1,2,3,4),are synthesized by using the solid-state reaction method and the melting method.The effects of the replacement of Si with Zn on the structure and the electrical transmission characteristics are investigated for n-type Ba8Ga16ZnxSi30-x.The results indicate that the sample with the value of x =1 has the maximal bond angle distortion Δθ,Δθ=4.4. .The electrical conductivity of samples with x=0,2,4 is higher than that of samples with x=1,3.Among the samples,the electrical conductivity of Ba8Ga16Zn1Si29 is the lowest.The samples with x=0,2,4 exhibit a higher Seebeck coefficient than that of samples with x=1,3,and the value of the Seebeck coefficient decreases with the increase of the Zn composition.The power factor of Ba8Ga16Zn2Si28 compound is as large as 1.03e-3W/(m·K2) at 1000K.

Key words: type-I clathrate,  Seebeck coefficient,  electrical conductivity