Electrical Properties of NiO

Abstract

The conductivity, Seebeck effect, and optical transmission of NiO have been analyzed using two alternative models. The first model assumes conduction to occur in the $d$ levels of Ni ions and yields a quantitative fit to the data. Mobility behavior determined with this model is explained in terms of wavy bands. The second model assumes conduction in the filled $\mathrm{sp}$ band of oxygen in addition to $d$-level conduction. It also yields a quantitative fit to the data which, however, is unsatisfactory because the concentrations and mobilities which result for $d$ carriers appear unreasonable. Examples of grain boundary conduction are analyzed.