The Influence of Density and Temperature on the Properties of Pure Molten Salts

Molten salts differ from most other types of liquids because of their high charge carrier density, which is responsible for a number of their extraordinary properties such as high ionic conductivity. Experimental and theoretical investigations during the past few years have provided information on the static and dynamic microscopic structures of this class of liquids and their relationship with the macroscopic properties. A consistent, albeit incomplete picture of the behavior of molten salts over wide ranges of temperature and density is now available including the transition from an insulator to an ionic conductor which a salt undergoes when it is compressed from vapor‐like to liquid‐like densities.