AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF STEROIDS.

The electrical conductivity of sixteen steroids in the solid state was measured as a function of temperature. While too small to measure at room temperature, the exponential increase in conductivity with temperature can be determined at elevated temperatures (70 degrees - 130 degrees C). Most steroids tested had a conductivity of 10(-13) to 10(-15)ohm(-1)cm(-1) at 100 degrees C and an activation energy of 2 to 4 ev. It it concluded that the observed conductivity is due to impurities. Exposure of keto steroids to iodine vapor results in unstable colored compounds, probably charge transfer complexes, which in some cases have a conductivity as high as 10(-4)ohm(-1)cm(-1).