An Investigation of 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° - 130°C). Most steroids tested had a conductivity of 10^-13 to 10^-15ohm^-1cm^-1 at 100°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^-4ohm^-1cm^-1.