The preparation of c-axis epitaxial Bi-2212 films on STO(1 0 0) by sol-gel method

Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212) films were grown on (1 0 0) oriented SrTiO₃ (STO) substrate using sol-gel spin-coating method. The effects of heat treatment conditions and coating times on the phase formation and surface morphology were investigated using thermal analysis, optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electronic microscopy. Mixed phases were formed from 820 to 840 °C, and Bi-2212 single phase was obtained at 830 °C for 3 h. c-axis epitaxial films with smooth surfaces were obtained by drying at 600 °C and coating for 5 times.     

Positron annihilation and magnetization studies of proton irradiated polycrystalline textured Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and Bi1.84Pb0.34Sr1.91Ca2.03Cu3.06O10+δ superconductors

Proton irradiations on polycrystalline textured Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212) and Bi_1.84Pb_0.34Sr_1.91Ca_2.03Cu_3.06O_10+δ (Bi-2223) samples have been carried out. The irradiation induced defect size increases with dose up to 5×10¹⁵ protons/cm² in Bi-2212, but remains effectively constant in Bi-2223 as revealed from positron lifetime measurements. Magnetization studies show that at moderate dose, there is no significant change in intergranular critical current density (J_c^int) in both systems. But intragranular critical current density (J_c) increases with dose in Bi-2212. A drastic fall in both J_c^int and J_c is observed at high dose in Bi-2223 as compared to Bi-2212.     

Specific heat and thermal expansion of the Bi and Tl high temperature superconductors nearT c

We present measurements of the specific heat and of the thermal expansion of the most prominent phases of the Bi and Tl high temperature superconductors (Bi-2212, Bi-2223, Tl-2212, Tl-2223) in the neighbourhood ofT _c . In all these systems we observe small but sharp anomalies which have very little similarity with the mean field jump found in the conventional superconductors. The analysis of these anomalies shows clear evidence for the presence of strong fluctuations of the order parameter. For temperatures more than 5 K away fromT _c ,2D Gaussian fluctuations are found, while within ±5 K ofT _c the fluctuation contribution is best fitted by critical fluctuations. The shape of the thermal expansion anomalies is similar to that of the specific heat. Combination of both measurements predicts dT _c /dp+0.2 K/kbar for Bi- and Tl-2223 systems.     

Influence of Y2Cu2O5 nanoparticles doping on superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-δ

ABSTRACT

The blue phase of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7- δ} (YBCO) family, Y₂Cu₂O₅ (Y202) nanoparticles were prepared and doped into (YBCO) superconductor and the effect of doping on critical current density and critical temperature was investigated. Y202 nanoparticles with particle sizes of 47, 107 and 206?nm were prepared by a sol–gel combustion method and added into the YBCO superconductor by 0.5–2?wt.%. XRD and scanning electron microscope measurements were used to characterize the samples. The measurement of critical current density at 77?K revealed that the doped superconductors had larger critical current density compared to the undoped superconductors. For a fixed dopant concentration, by increasing the size of nanoparticles, the J_c was increased. For the samples including 0.5?wt.% of nanoadditives, J_c was higher. The highest critical current density of 137?A/cm² was measured for the superconductors containing 0.5?wt.% of 206?nm Y202 nanoparticles. Also, by increasing the nanoparticles concentration, the T_c was reduced.     

Effect of pressure on the superconducting transition in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system

Abstract

The effect of pressure on T_c was studied on 110 K class Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (1:1:1:2) compounds. T_c was varied with current in I^3/2 , and defined at the value extrapolated to zero current. dT_c /dP = + 0.18 K/kbar was obtained up to 10.9 kbars.     

Growth evolution of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ thin films deposited by infrared (1064 nm) pulsed laser deposition

Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212) thin films were grown on MgO (1 0 0) using 1064 nm infrared pulsed laser deposition with post heat treatment. The material arrives at the substrate surface with characteristic spheroidal morphology. Smooth, homogeneous and highly c-axis oriented films were obtained after heat treatment. Using infrared laser as excitation, the stoichiometry of the target is preserved on the film. However, the films were apparently under-doped.     

Determination of the partition coefficients of the nonionic detergent C12E7 between lipid-detergent mixed membranes and water by means of Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy

The membrane-water partition coefficient of the detergent C₁₂E₇ between water and C₁₂E₇/POPC mixed membranes has been determined by means of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. The emission spectra of the fluorescent probe Laurdan were used as an indicator of membrane composition at different membrane concentrations in the sample. The partition coefficient expressed as the ratio of the mole fractions of the detergent in the membrane and water phases is about 6^*10⁵ at low molar ratios of C₁₂E₇/POPC (R _c ) and decreases rapidly with increasingR _c . The limiting detergent content of the lamellar phase (R _c ^* >0.8) is indicated by a minimum ofP(R _c ).     

Specific heat of the non-centrosymmetric superconductor Re3W

The alloys of non-centrosymmetric superconductor, Re 3 W, which were reported to have an α-Mn structure [P. Greenfield and P. A. Beck, J. Metals, N. Y. 8, 265 (1959)] with T c = 9 K, are prepared by arc melting. The values of ac susceptibility and the low-temperature specific heat of these alloys are measured. It is found that there are two superconducting phases coexisting in the samples with T c1 ≈ 9 K and T c2 ≈ 7 K, which are both non-centrosymmetric in structure as reported previously. By analysing the specific heat data measured in various magnetic fields down to a temperature of 1.8 K, we find that the absence of the inversion symmetry does not lead to an obvious deviation from an s-wave pairing symmetry in Re 3 W.     

Far IR transmission spectra of an YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin film

Abstract

The FIR transmission of an YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ film 1000 Å thick deposited on an MgO plate has been studied from 20 cm^?1 to 4000 cm^?1 at T = 300 K, and at 120 K, 80 K and 7 K. i) The spectra for the normal state are well fitted if a mid-IR oscillator of high strength and high damping is added to the simplest Drude model. ii) The spectra for the superconductive state do not show significant variations of transmission vs. temperature for ω > 120 cm^?1, which should be in agreement with a weak BCS coupling 2Δ = 3.5 kT_c . iii) The FIR transmission at 7 K for ω = 20 cm^?1 is not zero (around 1%) and seems to confirm that the low-temperature perovskite is made of two phases: a superconducting, and a normal one, the proportion of the first one increasing when the film temperature is decreased.     

Gd-substituted Bi-2223 superconductor

The effects of gadolinium doping at calcium site on the normal and superconducting properties of Bi-2223 system were studied. The Gd-doped (BiPb)-2223 series of specimens, namely Batch I, II and III were sintered at three different sintering temperatures 830, 850 and 895°C respectively. The properties investigated are (1) the normal state resistivity with a view to study metal-to-insulator transition, (2) the XRD patterns of the specimens with a view to study the relative composition of (BiPb)-2212 and (BiPb)-2223 phases and (3) the superconducting fluctuation behaviour (SFB) with a view to determine the effect of doping, if any, on the dimensionality of the fluctuation conductivity of the system. The normal state resistivity of Gd-substituted Bi-2223 specimens shows metallic, semiconducting and insulating behaviour. The T _c (R = 0) values indicate that (BiPb)-2223 phase is responsible for the observed superconducting transitions in Batch I and Batch II specimens with Gd concentrations x ≤ 0.7. This observation is further confirmed in the analysis of XRD patterns of these specimens. Gadolinium, being a magnetic impurity, has pair breaking effect near the Fermi level and decreases T _c (R = 0). The analysis of the superconducting fluctuation behaviour (SFB) shows a 2D dimensionality without any cross-over.

---

Electronic Supplementary Material  Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.      

Energy gaps and phonon structures in tunneling spectra of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+x and Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+y superconductors

Polycrystalline Bi-2212 or Bi-2223 systems and single crystals of the Bi-2212 system were investigated at several temperatures by means of the break-junction and point-contact tunneling techniques, respectively. In the case of Bi-2223 we obtained an averaged gap value 2=65±4 meV. The Bi-2212 system yields 2= 45±5 meV in the case of polycrystalline samples and 2=47±5 meV in the case of single crystals. Hence there result BCS-ratios 2/k _B T _c of 7.3, 6.8 and 6.5, respectively. A dc-Josephson-type supercurrent could be observed in polycrystalline Bi-2212 samples in addition to the usual gap structure. The point-contact tunneling spectra of Bi-2212 single crystals exhibit structures in the second derivative d² I/d V ² which we interpret as inelastic tunneling processes due to electron-phonon scattering most likely in the barrier region. The phonon energies deduced from these structures are in accordance with data obtained from inelastic neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy. Good agreement is obtained with a lattice dynamical calculation of the partial phonon densities of states of individual atoms in the unit cell.     

AlB2 and MgB2: a comparative study of their electronic,phonon and superconductivity properties via first principles

ABSTRACT

Recently, the AlB₂-type compounds (such as AlB₂ and MgB₂) which exhibit Dirac Nodal Line (DNLs) semimetal on their electronic band structure and Phononic Weyl Nodal Straight Lines (PTWNLs) on their phonon spectrum, have received wide attentions on their novel properties. Up to date, no comparative studies have been investigated on their electronic structures, phonon spectrum, and electron phonon coupling (EPC) under the conditions of carrier doping and strain engineering. Here, we systemically investigate their above properties under carrier doping and strain engineering by first-principles calculations. The results show that the superconducting transition temperature T _c can be enhanced by electron doping and tensile strain. For AlB₂, the tensile strain of 6% can enhance T _c to 10.25?K and with the doping concentrate of 0.1 e^- per cell can enhance T _c reach to 9.89?K. Moreover, the physical quantities related to superconductivity of AlB₂ are more affected by carrier doping than MgB₂. Our results provide a theoretical reference to explore the correlation between electronic and phonon topological properties in AlB₂-type materials.     

Effect of chemical substitution and oxide additives on the Tc behaviour of the oxide superconductor,Bi4Sr3Ca3Cu4O16

Studies on the superconductivity behaviour of pure and doped (Pb,TI) Bi₄Sr₃Ca₃Cu₄O₁₆ phases are reported. Effect of oxide additives PbO, BaPbO₃ and BaBiO₃ has also been examined. Results show that an oxygen treatment at 600°C for 12 h during the final stages of the synthesis has the beneficial effect of sharpening the T_c ^zero of the 4334 Bi-composition. Pb and TI substitution has only a marginally beneficial effect on the T_c , though it is not definitely known whether substitution is actually occurring in the system. PbO as an additive raises the T_c ^zero to 89 K, whereas other additives do not basically affect the properties of the 4334 system.     

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange induced by an electric field in α-Al2O3 single crystals

Abstract

Hydrogen and deuterium are observed in α-Al₂O₃ crystals in the form of OH^? and OD^? radicals, respectively, which absorb in the infrared region. Infrared-absorption measurements were used to monitor diffusion of deuterons and protons in α-Al₂O₃ single crystals under the application of a moderate electric field parallel to the crystallographic c-axis, in the temperature range of 973—1333K. A linear dependence of the percent of exchange with both annealing time and applied voltage is observed, indicating that ionic conduction was taking place. The activation energy for the H⁺  D⁺ exchange was determined to be 2.4 eV, less than half the value obtained by pure thermal means, suggesting that under the application of an electric field the deuteron (proton) diffusion mechanism is different.     

High-resolution infrared spectrum of CHD279Br: ro-vibrational analysis of the ν5 and ν9 fundamentals

ABSTRACT

The high-resolution infrared spectrum of CHD₂⁷⁹Br has been investigated by Fourier transform spectroscopy in the range 700–900?cm^?1 at an unapodized resolution of 0.0035?cm^?1. This spectral region is characterised by the absorptions of the ν₅ (814.5185?cm^?1) and ν₉ (716.9649?cm^?1) fundamental bands, corresponding to H–C–Br deformation and CD₂ rocking modes, respectively. The ν₅ vibration of symmetry species A^′ gives rise to an a-/c-hybrid band with a predominant a-type component, while the ν₉ mode of A^′′ symmetry produces a b-type envelope. The spectral analysis resulted in the identification of 5290 (J^′?≤?63 and K_a^′?≤?13) and 1657 (J^′?≤?53 and K_a^′?≤?12) transitions for ν₅ and ν₉ bands, respectively. The assigned data were fitted using the Watson’s S-reduced Hamiltonian in the I^r representation and the v₅?=?1 and v₉?=?1 state parameters up to the quartic centrifugal distortion terms have been obtained. From spectral simulations the dipole moment ratio |Δμ_a/Δμ_c| of the ν₅ band has been determined to be 1.4?±?0.1 while the intensity ratio between ν₅ and ν₉ fundamentals has been estimated to have a value of 4.3?±?0.5.     

Shock wave working of high-TC superconductors

Abstract

The results of investigating the processes of explosive compaction of Y-Ba-Cu-O and Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O powdered ceramic high temperature superconducting materials and the shock-induced variation of their properties are presented. The possibility for obtaining metal-ceramic cylinder and spiral-shaped articles is illustrated. The shock wave loading of sintered ceramics is shown to result in degrading its superconducting properties up on R(T), which are subsequently restored by low-temperature annealing. The loss of superconducting properties is demonstrated to correlate with the X-ray lines width. In case of Bi-4334 ceramic, we have observed the improving SP-properties on susceptibility just after shocking it. The effect of the compaction pressure, initial particle size, atmosphere (air, O₂, N₂), initial temperature on material properties is studied.     

Specific heat anomaly in the 90 K superconductor HoBa2Cu3O7−y

We report here the results of our heat capacityC _p measurements on a monophasic material HoBa₂Cu₃O_7−y . ΔC _p/T_c, the jump inC _p at the superconducting transition temperature (=91 K) of the material is measured to be 31 mJ/mol-K².     

Metal-insulator transition in electron-doped Ba1−x La x MnO3 compounds

Electron-doped (Ba_1−x La _x )MnO₃ compounds were prepared for x=0−0.5. Measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD) at room temperature and temperature variation of dc electrical resistivity down to 20 K were carried out. Samples with x=0.2–0.5 exhibit metal-insulator (M-I) transition. The maximum M-I transition temperature (T _c) of 289 K was observed for 30% of La doping (x=0.3). XRD patterns of these samples (x=0.2−0.5) were analyzed using Rietveld refinement. These samples are found to be mostly in single-phase form with orthorhombic symmetry (space group Pbnm). We have found strong correlation between Mn-O-Mn bond angles and T _c of M-I transition. The resistivity data below T _c could be fitted to the expression ρ=ρ ₁+ρ ₂ T ² and this shows that double exchange interaction plays a major role even in Mn⁴⁺-rich compound. Above T _c the resistivity data were fitted to variable range hopping and small polaron models.     

Thermoactivated spectroscopy of heterovalent impurity traps in CdWO4

Abstract

Recombination luminescence emission spectra, TSL and trap spectra estimated by fractional glow technique (FGT), in nominally pure and Li-, Bi- and Ho-doped CdWO₄, crystals are reported. According to the investigations by FGT heterovalent impurities Li, Bi and Ho causes localized electronic states which act as traps for charge carriers. It is shown that TSL results in emission of known blue-green luminescence band by emptying of the Li⁺-related traps in CdWO₄-Li and yellow luminescence band by emptying of the Bi³⁺-related traps in CdWO₄-Bi. It is proposed that blue-green and yellow luminescence occur by recombination correspondingly of free holes and free electrons at different intrinsic tungstate group related luminescence centers.     

钛离子辐照对MgB2超导薄膜的载流能力和磁通钉扎能力的影响

利用混合物理化学气相沉积法(hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition, HPCVD)可以制备出高性能的MgB₂超导薄膜, 再对薄膜进行钛(Ti)离子辐照处理.经过辐照处理后的样品被掺入了Ti元素, 与未处理的干净MgB₂样品相比,其超导转变温度没有出现大幅度的下降, 而在外加磁场下的临界电流密度得到了明显的提高,同时样品的上临界磁场也得到了提高. 在温度5 K, 外加垂直磁场为4 T的情况下, Ti离子辐照剂量为1× 10¹³/cm²的样品的临界电流密度达到了1.72× 10⁵ A/cm², 比干净的MgB₂要高出许多,而其超导转变温度仍能维持在39.9 K的较高水平.