β-boron and AlB12 as quasi-amorphous semiconductors and thermoelectrical materials

The comparative investigation of the electrical properties of β-boron and α-AlB12 in strong and zero electrical fields, and over a wide temperature range, has been carried out. It has been shown that these properties are determined partly by the close order, as in amorphous semiconductors, due to the complex lattices of the materials under consideration. The switching and memory effects for AlB12 have been observed and discussed. It has been shown that β-boron and α-AlB12 are very promising substances for thermoelectrical applications at high temperatures. (Auth.)