Low-Temperature Specific Heat of Polysulfur Nitride,(SN)x

Abstract

Measurements of the specific heat of crystalline ${\left(\mathrm{SN}\right)}_x$ in the region 1.5-10°K are reported. A linear temperature contribution to the specific heat is found and interpreted as arising from an electron state density of 0.18 state/(eV spin molecule) and a one-dimensional tight-binding conduction band of width ≥0.9 eV. Analysis of the lattice specific-heat contribution supports existing evidence that ${\left(\mathrm{SN}\right)}_x$ is a highly anisotropic crystalline polymer and suggests a possible explanation for the apparent absence of a Peierls transition.