Abstract
The semiconductivity of polycrystalline $Cu_2O$ has been studied between $220^{\circ}C$ and $680^{\circ}C under partial pressures of oxygen from $4.06{\times}10^{-3}\;to\;10^{-5 }\;mmHg$. The plots of log conductivity vs 1/T at constant oxygen pressure were found to be linear, and the activation energies obtained from the slopes of these plots above the first transition point showed that the energies were greater under high oxygen pressure than under low pressure. The transition points between the stable range and the unstable range of $Cu_2O$ were found from the curves. The dependence of the semiconductivity on the $O_2$ pressure, in the above temperature range, is shown hysteresis.