Volume-Rectification of Crystals

Abstract

IT has been shown by Khastgir and Das-Gupta¹ that crystals like carborundum, silicon and zincite, which have no centres of symmetry, give volume-rectification when placed between mercury electrodes ; whereas with symmetrical crystals, for example, galena and iron pyrites, they did not find this rectifying effect when the crystals were similarly placed with large area of contact between mercury electrodes. Experiments conducted in our laboratory have, however, shown the existence of the so-called volume-rectification in galena, iron pyrites and pyrolusite placed between mercury electrodes.