Transport properties of bismuth-doped β-lead dioxide

The solid solution of β-Pb1−xBixO2 for 0≤x≤0.4 has been prepared electrochemically. The electrical conductivity of β-PbO2 is semi-metallic with room temperature resistivity of about 3×10−3 Ω cm; but the Bi-doped samples are more resistive and the resistivity follows a power-law behaviour. Despite the similarity of electronic structure between β-PbO2 and BaPbO3, the charge carriers introduced by Bi are localised and the β-Pb1−xBixO2 system does not become superconducting down to 2 K.