Solutions of group IV elements in liquid lithium: Electrical resistivities

Abstract

Electrical resistivity-composition ( ρ− x M ) isotherms are presented for dilute solutions of tin (0.000 ⩽ x Sn ⩽ 0.0138) and of lead (0.000 ⩽ x Pb ⩽ 0.0140) in liquid lithium; they increase linearly with increasing composition. The gradients of the isotherms at 675 K and x M = 0.01 ( dρ dx Sn = 11.65 × 10 −6 Ω m x Sn −1 and dρ dx Pb = 9.70 × 10 −6 Ω m x Pb −1 ) are similar in magnitude to those for dilute solutions of silicon ( dρ dx Si = 10.35 × 10 −6 Ω m x Si −1 ) and of germanium ( dρ dx Ge = 11.15 × 10 −6 Ω m x Ge −1 ) in liquid lithium. These four dρ dx M values, which are the largest yet observed for solutes in this solvent, are compared with corresponding data for solutions of germanium, tin and lead in liquid sodium and are interpreted within the context of chemical short-range order; the relationship between the existence of chemical short-range order in liquid binary metallic systems and the formation of a Zintl phase which approximates to a normal valency compound in the solid state is stressed.