The resistivity and thermoelectric power of liquid alloys containing tellurium

Abstract

Results are reported for the resistivity and thermoelectric power of three binary alloy systems in the liquid state, Ga-Te, Ge-Te, and Pb-Te. In two of these systems there is clear evidence for what may loosely be termed ‘compound formation’, at concentrations corresponding to Ga₂Te₃ and PbTe, and there is some sign that GeTe₂ exists as a compound in the third. An attempt is made to classify the numerous Te-based systems which have now been studied in the liquid state, nearly all of which show evidence for compound formation, according to the nature of the bonding mechanism involved. The way in which the thermoelectric power varies with concentration is qualitatively the same for all the systems within one group, but there are significant differences between one group and the next.