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

Abstract

Measurements of the specific heat of crystalline ${(\mathrm{SN})}_{x}$ in the region 1.5-10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}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 \ensuremath{\ge}0.9 eV. Analysis of the lattice specific-heat contribution supports existing evidence that ${(\mathrm{SN})}_{x}$ is a highly anisotropic crystalline polymer and suggests a possible explanation for the apparent absence of a Peierls transition.