Abstract: Polycrystalline skutterudite compounds Ba_xCo₄Sb₁₂ (0.2≤x≤0.8) were successfully synthesized by solid state reaction under high pressure (2-5GPa). The crystallographic figures and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis separately. Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity were measured at room temperature. The results show that high-pressure synthesis method can improve the Ba-filled content effectively. The samples have few micro-pores with fine-grai1ned structure, their grain diameter sizes are in the micro-nanometer range. The maximum power factor value of the sample Ba_0.8Co₄Sb₁₂ obtained at 4.25GPa is 13.19μW/(cm·K²).

Key words: thermoelectric materials, Ba-filled, skutterudite, high pressure synthesis