Nonuniversality of the Mooij Correlation—the Temperature Coefficient of Electrical Resistivity of Disordered Metals

Abstract

By using compiled, updated experimental data, we have demonstrated that the correlation between the temperature coefficient of electrical resistivity $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and the resistivity $\ensuremath{\rho}$ for disordered metals at room temperature is not universal. The origin of the nonuniversality of the Mooij correlation stems mostly from a competition between the quantum mechanical effects of incipient localization and the classical Boltzmann electron transport. Results of a numerical analysis based on localization indicate that there is a unique and monotonic correlation between $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and $\ensuremath{\rho}$ for a specific disordered metallic system, in accord with the essential features of our new Mooij ($\ensuremath{\alpha} \mathrm{vs} \ensuremath{\rho}$) plot.