Electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power of liquid In-Te alloys

Abstract

The electrical conductivity σ and thermoelectric power S of liquid In-Te alloys have been measured as a function of temperature. Both properties point at semiconducting behaviour of the Te-rich alloys. The electrical conductivity shows a-minimum at the stoichiometric concentration In₂Te₃. The temperature coefficient of the conductivity, which for tellurium contents higher than 30 at.% is positive, shows a maximum there. The thermoelectric power is positive between 34 and 100 at.% Te and shows two maxima, at about 43 and 70 at.% Te. Plots of In σ and S versus 1/T give straight lines above the melting point, which at higher temperatures bend off to lower values of activation energy.