THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF LIQUID TIN: (II) SULPHIDE

Abstract

The electrical conductivity "σ" of tin (II) sulphide in the liquid state has been measured using a capillary type cell. Both a-c. and d-c. methods were used. The conductivity of SnS increases regularly with temperature, from approximately 24 ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 895 °C to 31.2 ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 930 °C. The similarity of results obtained with both a-c. and d-c. methods, the positive temperature coefficient of conductivity, the high value of the conductivity and the absence of electrolysis effects when passing heavy currents in the melt lead to the conclusion that SnS remains a semiconductor in the liquid state. The value of the energy gap has been calculated to be 1.9 ev for the liquid as compared to the value 1.2 ev for the solid. Conductivity measurements have been limited to the temperature of approximately 935 °C because of the decomposition of SnS at higher temperatures.