Radial distribution functions of molten salt mixtures

Abstract

The mean spherical approximation (MSA) is used to determine the radial distribution functions of two component molten salt mixtures. The two salts forming the mixture are of 1-1 type and have the same anion. The results reported cover substantial ranges of concentration c and of the ratio α (⩽ 1) of one of the cation to the anion radius, the other cation being equisized to the anion. The structure of the mixture appears to be appreciably influenced by the variation in the concentration, but the most prominent effects take place when the size of the particles is varied. Ordering in the charge turns out to be well defined only on a limited region of the (c, α) plane. The limit of high dilution of one of the two components is also investigated. It is seen that, for sufficiently small cation diameter and concentration, there might occur the conditions for molecular complexes to form in the mixture. In particular, the mean interionic distances as deduced from the maxima in the r.d.fs compare favourably with ex...