Thermodynamic evaluation of electron component of melting entropy of semiconductors metallizing during solid-liquid transformation

Discussed is the possiblity of a thermodynamic evaluation of the ΔSsub(el) electron constituent of the entropy of fusion on the basis of the Boltzmann formula by considering the variation in the number of electrons bound in solid and liquid phases. The number of bound electrons in liquid phase was determined with due regard for the proportion of clusters in the structure of the liquid, said structure being calculated from the viscosity data of the investigated melts. Calculated and experimental values of the concentrations of free electrons in melts of germanium, silicon and compounds of AlSb, GaSb, InSb were compared to support the validity of the suggested method for evaluating the electronic constituent of the entropy of fusion. A correlation was established between Δ SsubCel) and the proportion of paired electrons which become free on melting of metallizing semiconductors