The Structure Of Molten Nickel Iodide

The structure of molten NiI2 has been investigated by measuring the intensity of neutron scatting from isotopically enriched samples. The experiments were undertaken at the Intense Pulsed Neutron source, Argonne, and employed time-of-flight techniques. The three partial structure factors and the corresponding radial distribution functions, relating to Ni-Ni, Ni-I and I-I correlations, have been determined from the experimental data. Aspects of the data analysis peculiar to pulsed sources are described and the detailed structural features of molten NiI2 are presented in the context of other studies of 2:1 molten salts. The importance of iconicity and charge-transfer effects is discussed.