Dissipationless electric current flow through decomposing liquid metal-ammonia solutions between copper electrodes

Abstract

The potential distribution along the current path through a decomposing liquid lithium—ammonia solution as well as the temperatures which cathode and anode attain when an electric current flows through the solution have been measured. In addition, the temperature and vapour pressure of the solution have been determined as a function of the electric power input. The data indicate that the current heat is developed homogeneously along the current path between cathode and anode in the normal-conducting state of the solution, whereas in the high-conducting state, into which the solution beyond some critical current may jump, the current heat is developed only at the anode. Therefore, the absorbed electric power seems to be transported nearly without dissipation throughout the volume of the solution in the high-conducting state, being transformed into heat only after the electrons have entered the anode, where it appears at node heating.