Question 9.1: Assuming representative values of Z* = -10, Q* = 10 kJ/mol, ...
Assuming representative values of Z\ast =-10,Q∗=10 kJ/mol, j_{e}=1×10^{10} A/m^{2},\rho=1×10^{-7}\Omega-m,T=1000K and dT/dx = 10^{7} K/m, does electromigration or thermomigration dominate?
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Substituting in Eq. 9-6 we have
\frac{J_{e}}{J_{th}}=\frac{-10×1.6×10^{-19}×1×10^{-7}×1×10^{10}×6.62×10^{23}}{-\left( 10,000/100 \right)×10^{7}}=9.6.
\frac{J_{e}}{J_{th}}=\frac{Z\ast q\rho j_{e}}{-\left( Q\ast IT \right)dT/dx} (9-6)
(Note that to make units match, Avogadro’s number must be included in the numerator.) This calculation suggests that electromigration dominates thermo-transport.
Without knowing the temperature distributions and material constants in a contact it is sometimes easier to make measurements. This was done by Runde et al (5), who deposited minute quantities of radioactive zinc on one of two aluminum contact electrodes. A buildup of Zn observed on the counter electrode, consistent with the current polarity, demonstrated that electromigration had occurred. Transfer of metal at contacts changes the alloy composition and generally raises R_c.