Activation Energy of Electrical Conductivity of Some Binary Crystals

The electrical conductivity of binary crystals is significantly influenced by their atomic structure, bonding, and defects. Activation energy is the minimum energy required to excite charge carriers to contribute to electrical conduction. This paper focuses on investigating the activation energy in various binary crystals such as NaCl, ZnS, CdTe, and PbS. These materials demonstrate a broad range of conduction mechanisms, from ionic to electronic and defect-based conductivity. Using temperature-dependent conductivity measurements, activation energies were calculated and analyzed. The results shed light on the electronic structure and potential applications of these crystals in optoelectronics and sensor technologies.