Solutions of Lithium Salts in Liquid Lithium: Electrical Resistivity of Solutions of Nitride, Hydride and Deuteride

Abstract

The electrical resistivities, ρ, of solutions of lithium nitride, lithium hydride and lithium deuteride in liquid lithium have been determined for concentrations, x, up to 2.77, 5.68 and 2.22 mol % non-metal over the temperature ranges 200–450, 257–551 and 276–500°C, respectively. For each solute, resistivity increases linearly with increasing concentration, except for very dilute solutions, and the coefficient, dρ/dx increases with increasing temperature. Nitride causes the greatest increase in resistivity [dρ/dx= 7.0 × 10–8Ωm (mol % N)–1 at 400°C], and hydride and deuteride show no detectable isotope effect [dρ/dx= 4.9 × 10–8Ωm (mol % H or D)–1 at 400°C]. The resistivities of mixtures of nitride and hydride in lithium are additive, thereby showing lack of association between these solutes. Ammonia vapour reacts with the metal to form hydride and nitride which dissolve to increase the resistivity by their characteristic amounts.