Electronic conduction in liquid boron

The electrical conductivity of levitated liquid elemental boron was measure d near the melting point using a contactless electrical conductivity techni que. A phase change is clearly detected in the course of laser heating of a 2 mm diameter boron sphere levitated aerodynamically. The value obtained f or the electrical conductivity sets liquid boron among the liquid semicondu ctors and establishes that the semiconducting behavior survives the melting process contradicting an earlier report that a semiconductor-to-metal tran sition occurs.