The Anisotropic Electrical Conductivity of M.B.B.A. Containing Tetrabutyl-Ammonium Tetraphenyl-Boride

An investigation was made of the anisotropic electrical conductivity (σ‖ and σ⊥) of MBBA (p-methoxybenzylidene-p-n-butylaniline) containing tetrabutylammonium tetraphenyl-boride (henceforth denoted as AB where A+ is the tetrabutylammonium cation and B− is the tetraphenylboride anion). Alignment parallel and perpendicular to the applied electric field was accomplished by means of a 6000 Gauss magnetic field. The measurements were made at 22°C in a frequency range of 5,000 to 20,000 Hertz and at a sequence of nominal concentrations of AB up to about 10−4 moles/liter. The DC angularaverage conductivity σ(= 1/3 σ‖ + 2/3 σ1) was obtained by extrapolating plots of σ versus the square of the frequency to zero frequency. The experimental measurements fit apparently quite well by a simple dissociation model, AB ≠ A+ + B− with the results From these results we obtain for the mobility sums