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Topic: Why is Sn a better electrical conductor than Pb?  (Read 3979 times)

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Offline SnufitS

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Why is Sn a better electrical conductor than Pb?
« on: May 24, 2012, 11:29:47 AM »
Hello! :)

I recently read that tin was a better electrical conductor than lead despite the fact that electrical conductivity generally increases down a group (tin is above lead in the periodic table). Can anyone please explain me the logic behind this exception?

Thanks! :)

Offline juanrga

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Re: Why is Sn a better electrical conductor than Pb?
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2012, 06:50:05 AM »
Hello! :)

I recently read that tin was a better electrical conductor than lead despite the fact that electrical conductivity generally increases down a group (tin is above lead in the periodic table). Can anyone please explain me the logic behind this exception?

Thanks! :)

tin has a weaker electron-phonon coupling than lead. So at room temperature, the conduction electrons do not get "decelerated" by the phonons as strongly as in lead. So they can move more efficiently.
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Offline SnufitS

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Re: Why is Sn a better electrical conductor than Pb?
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2012, 10:50:03 AM »

tin has a weaker electron-phonon coupling than lead. So at room temperature, the conduction electrons do not get "decelerated" by the phonons as strongly as in lead. So they can move more efficiently.


Wow that's so cool (I've never heard of phonons before)! :D

I might not be well-informed, but I will try to understand why tin has a weaker electron-phonon coupling than lead if you are kind enough to share (unless it is too complicated to explain, which I hope it isn't).

Thanks a lot!

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