Resistance and Magnetoresistance of Li(NH3)4

Measurements are reported on the resistivity and magnetoresistance of the bronze-colored compound formed on freezing a saturated solution of lithium in ammonia. The lithium compound freezes at 89°K. The residual resistivity at 4.2°K is 0.30 μΩ cm. The lithium compound shows a nonsaturating magnetoresistance of the form $\frac{\Delta \rho }{{\rho }_0}=A{B}^2$ where $A=46\mathrm{}$ $m^4$ ${\mathrm{volt}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$ ${\sec }^{-2\mathrm{}}$, at fields up to 43 kG. The large magnetoresistance is assumed to originate from hole and electron bands containing equal numbers of carriers; that is, the material taken to be completely compensated.