Electronic properties of liquid noble metal-Si alloys

The electrical resistivity, ρ, of liquid noble metal-Si alloys (M1−cSic, M = Cu, Ag, Au) increases rapidly with the addition of Si to liquid noble metals. The composition dependence of ρ exhibits a maximum at the composition c = 0.3, 0.4 and 0.4 for liquid Cu-Si, Ag-Si and Au-Si, respectively. A positive to negative transition of thermoelectric power, S, is observed at c = 0.3, 0.15 and 0.1 for liquid Cu-Si, Ag-Si and Au-Si, respectively. Their composition dependence of S reaches a minimum value in the composition range c = 0.6-0.8. The experimental results of ρ and S have been analyzed using the Faber-Ziman theory. The composition dependence of χ for liquid Cu-Si and Au-Si alloys exhibits a clear deviation from a straight line on the noble metal-rich side. As a result, liquid Cu-Si and Au-Si alloys have a minimum in the composition dependence of paramagnetic susceptibility.