Electrical properties of an unusual liquid semiconductor: K-Te

Abstract Thermopower and electrical conductivity measurements are reported for liquid KxTe1−x alloys. The results confirm a semiconducting behaviour of the liquid over a large range of compositions and temperatures, which is due to the presence of low-coordination structural units as confirmed by recent diffraction studies. Further insights into the controversial issue of Te bonding in the liquid state are inferred. The Kubo-Greenwood formalism is discussed to explain the observed electrical conductivity and thermopower. The temperature dependence of the conductivity is shown to obey the Meyer-Neldel (MN) rule. The data are not consistent with an explanation of the MN rule based on a statistical shift of the Fermi energy with temperature.