The Electrical Conductivities and the Structural Properties of Molten PbCl[sub 2]-PbS Mixtures

The specific conductivities of molten lead chloride‐lead sulfide mixtures have been determined. On the addition of the sulfide to the chloride the conductivity decreases initially and then increases as electronic conductance sets in at about 35 mole % sulfide. The conductivity in this region is characterized by temperature independent activation energies, typical of semiconductiye behavior. The electronic conduction in this system is analyzed on the basis that the melts are intrinsic semiconductors. The solubilities of lead in lead chloride, and in lead chloride‐lead sulfide melts up to 50 mole % sulfide were determined. The electrical conductivities of these solutions were also investigated. It is found that the activation energies for electronic conduction in the melts containing added metal change by only a very small amount, indicating that the added metal is not acting as are electron donor.