The electrical properties of synthetic crystals of proustite (Ag3AsS3)

Abstract

At room temperature high-purity synthetic single crystals of proustite were found to conduct electricity predominantly by motion of Ag+ ions; their transport number is 1·02±0·02. Evidence from photoconductivity observations shows that electronic conduction can also occur. The lattice dielectric constant is 21±1 independent of orientation at room temperature; at low frequencies higher dielectric constants are measured, due, it is thought, to space-charge effects involving ionic conduction and rate-limiting electrode processes. Effects at contacts and in the bulk during conduction of direct currents are described.