Low-temperature transport properties of polycrystalline Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀

Low-temperature resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and heat-capacity measurements were performed on Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀. This compound crystallizes in a cubic type-VIII clathrate phase, space group I^¯43m, with the Baatoms residing inside voids created by a tetrahedrally bonded network of Ga andSn atoms. Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ exhibits semiconducting behavior above 150 K with a low thermal conductivity and thus may hold potential for thermoelectric applications.