Time dependence of electrical resistance at high pressure in some tellurium based amorphous alloys

Electrical resistance measurements are reported for amorphous In₂₀Te₈₀ and Cu₂₅Au₅Te₇₀ alloys up to a pressure of 80 Kbar using a Bridgman anvil apparatus and a four lead arrangement to measure resistances. The amorphous samples are produced by liquisol quenching. The resistance shows time dependent changes which are analysed in detail. The contention that there is a pressure-induced transformation from the amorphous to the crystalline phase is confirmed by X-ray diffraction of samples recovered after they were pressurised to 35 Kbar in a hydrostatic environment.