Neutron powder diffraction and superconductivity in Ca substituted Bi-0212

In the system Bi-0212 the carrier concentration can be changed by both cation substitution and oxygen content. The crystal structure of Ca substituted material was refined from neutron powder diffraction data for Bi_0.5Sr_1.5Ca_0.5Y_0.5Cu_1.5Fe_0.5O_y. It is shown that extra oxygen is introduced in the cation layers between the double sheets of Cu/O pyramids. In superconducting material the familar dependence ofT _c on the hole carrier concentration is observed. The higherT _c is situated at 75 K.     

Magnetism and superconductivity in R1.5Ce0.5MSr2Cu2O10‐δ (M=Ru and Fe) compounds

It is shown here, that the superconducting (SC) R_1.5Ce_0.5RuSr₂Cu₂O_10-δ (RCeRuSCO, R= Eu and Gd) materials (T_c ～ 32 and 42 K) are also antiferromagnetically (AFM) ordered at T _N(Ru) ～ 122 and 180 K, respectively, thus, T_N ? T_c, a trend which is contrary to that obtained in “magnetic‐SC” intermetallic systems. Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) on 0.5% ⁵⁷Fe doped samples shows that all Fe ions reside in the Ru site which is magnetically ordered, whereas SC is confined to the CuO₂ planes. On the other hand, for Y_1.5Ce_0.5FeSr₂Cu₂O₉ (YCeFSCO) no SC is found and the Cu–O planes order AFM at T _N(Cu)=31 K. MS studies reveal two in equivalent Fe sites, and that Fe resides predominantly (60%) in the Cu(1) site. In both sites, the Fe does not order magnetically, and the low T _N(Cu) obtained is due to frustration of the Cu moments by the presence of Fe. T _N is sensitive to oxygen concentration and shifts toward 260 K when oxygen is depleted.     

Possible role of oxygen monomers reordering in the photoinduced charge transfer in RBa2Cu3O6+x material

The model of photoassisted oxygen ordering assumes that the enhancement of the conducting properties of RBa₂Cu₃O_6+x material during the light illumination, is the consequence of the CuO_x plane oxygen atoms reordering into long chain fragments, which are known to be better hole dopants than the short ones. Some experimental results suggest that this process is performed mainly through the reaccomodation of the oxygen monomer units (isolated oxygen ions). In the present work concentration of oxygen monomers in the CuO_x planes, which is assumed to be equal to the concentration of holes transferred out of the chain planes during the light illumination, is calculated as a function of oxygen content x, and δT_c (photoinduced enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature T_c) was estimated for different oxygen concentrations. Numerically found values of the δT_c are shown to be in good agreement with experimental findings.     

Effect of 3d metal ion doping on the structure and superconductivity of (Tl0.5Pb0.5)Sr2CaCu2O7

(Tl_0.5Pb_0.5)Sr₂Ca(Cu_2−xM_x)O₇ (M=Co, Ni and Zn) have been synthesized and investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all studied samples contain the nearly single ‘1212’ phase. They crystallize in a tetragonal unit cell with a=3.8028-3.8040 Å and c=12.0748-12.1558 Å. In (Tl_0.5Pb_0.5)Sr₂Ca(Cu_2−xM_x)O₇ system (M=Co or Ni), the superconducting critical temperature T_c decreases linearly with both Co and Ni concentrations and the rate of T_c decrease is around −6.5 and −7.0 K/at%, respectively. For (Tl_0.5Pb_0.5)Sr₂Ca (Cu_2−xZn_x)O₇ system, the dependence of T_c on the Zn dopant concentration deviates from a linear behavior and the Zn substitution suppresses T_c much less (−2.5 K/at%) than the Co and Ni substitutions. The suppression in T_c in Co and Ni doped samples are attributed to the magnetic pair-breaking mechanism and the reduction in the carrier concentration. The suppression of T_c in Zn doped samples is not caused by the reduction in carrier concentration which should remain constant, but rather due to nonmagnetic pair-breaking mechanism induced by disorder as well as the filling of the local Cu d_x²−y² state due to the full d band of Zn ions.     

Mn–Zn ferrite nanoparticles for ferrofluid preparation: Study on thermal–magnetic properties

Mn_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (with x   varying from 0.1 to 0.5) ferrite nanoparticles used for ferrofluid preparation have been prepared by chemical co-precipitation method and characterized. Characterization techniques like elemental analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy and spectrophotometry, thermal analysis using simultaneous TG-DTA, XRD, TEM, VSM and Mossbauer spectroscopy have been utilized. The final cation contents estimated agree with the initial degree of substitution. The Curie temperature (_Tc$T_{\mathrm{c}}$) and particle size decrease with the increase in zinc substitution. In the case of particles with higher zinc concentration, both ferrimagnetic nanoparticles and particles exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature are present. In addition, some of the results obtained by slightly altering the preparation condition are also discussed. The precipitated particles were used for ferrofluid preparation. The fine particles were suitably dispersed in heptane using oleic acid as the surfactant. The volatile nature of the carrier chosen helps in altering the number concentration of the magnetic particles in a ferrofluid. Magnetic properties of the fine particles and ferrofluids are discussed. Ferrofluids having Mn_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ particles can be used for the energy conversion application utilizing the magnetically induced convection for thermal dissipation.     

Mechanism of carrier generation and the origin of the pseudogap and 60 K phases in YBCO

The mechanism of hole carrier generation is considered in the framework of a model assuming the formation of negative U centers (NUCs) in HTSC materials under doping. The calculated dependences of carrier concentration on the doping level and temperature are in quantitative agreement with experiment. An explanation is proposed for the pseudogap and 60 K phases in YBa₂Cu₃O_6+δ. It is assumed that a pseudogap is of superconducting origin and arises at temperature T* > T_c∞ > T_c in small nonpercolating clusters as a result of strong fluctuations in the occupancy of NUCs (T_c∞ and T_c are the superconducting transition temperatures of an infinitely large and finite NUC clusters, respectively). The T*(δ) and T_c(δ) dependences calculated for YBa₂Cu₃O_6+δ correlate with experimental dependences. In accordance with the model, the region between T*(δ) and T_c(δ) is the range of fluctuations in which finite nonpercolation clusters fluctuate between the superconducting and normal states due to NUC occupancy fluctuations.     

Doping effect on the carrier scattering in iron-pnictide superconductors studied by charge transport

In order to reveal the role of “carrier doping” in the iron-based superconductors, we investigated the transport properties of the oxygen-deficient iron-arsenides LnFeAsO_1−y (Ln=La, Ce, Pr and Nd) over a wide doping range. We found that the effect of “doping” in this system is mainly on the carrier scattering rather than carrier density, quite distinct from that in high-T_c cuprates. In the case of La system with lower T_c, the low temperature resistivity is dominated by T² term and fairly large magnetoresistance is observed. On the other hand, in the Nd system with higher T_c, carriers are subject to stronger scattering showing nearly T-linear resistivity and small magnetoresistance. Such strong scattering appears intimately correlated with high-T_c superconductivity in the iron-based system.     

Oxygen content and oxide barrier thickness in granular aluminum films

Granular aluminium films were prepared by evaporation in an oxygen atmosphere. The oxygen content C_o of the films was determined by Rutherford backscattering. The superconducting transition temperature T_c is measured as a function of the oxygen concentration. From the results the thickness of the oxide barriers is derived by applying a model of spherical granula. This model is confirmed by the observed linear dependence T_c α C_o.     

Superconducting properties and structure of ion bombarded Nb layers

The influence of ion bombardment on the superconducting transition temperature T_c and the structure of thin evaporated niobium layers has been investigated as a function of ion species and layer purity. Irradiation through pure layers with neon ions and fluences of typically 1016 ions/cm² leads to relatively small T_c decreases (δT_c × 0.5 K), while in oxygen contaminated layers larger effects depending on oxygen concentration are observed. Homogeneous implantation of chemically active impurities (nitrogen, oxygen) also drastically depresses T_c reaching the detection limit of 1.2K at a concentration of 15 at. %N. The T_c depressions correlate with a lattice parameter expansion of the Nb bcc structure at a rate of about 0.1 %per 1 at. % impurity.     

A neutron small angle scattering study of the onset of ferromagnetism in TiBe2-xCux alloys

The onset of ferromagnetic order in TiBe_2-xCu_x alloys, with x = 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 and 0.15, has been examined using the technique of neutron small-angle scattering. The Curie temperature, T_c, for these alloys has been determined from the temperature dependence of the magnetic critical scattering. A linear extrapolation of T_c versus copper concentration yields a critical concentration for ferromagnetic order of x_c = 0.05 ± 0.02. For the alloys with x = 0.4, 0.5 the lineshape of the magnetic critical scattering, at and above T_c, is well explained by the Ornstein-Zernicke form of the spin correlation function. For the lower concentration alloys the exact form of the spin correlation function is still unclear.     

c-axis penetration depth in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals measured by ac-susceptibility and cavity perturbation technique

The c-axis penetration depth Δλ_c in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (BSCCO) single crystals as a function of temperature has been determined using two techniques, namely, measurements of the ac-susceptibility at a frequency of 100 kHz and the surface impedance at 9.4 GHz. Both techniques yield an almost linear function Δλ_c(T)∝T in the temperature range T<0.5T _c. Electrodynamic analysis of the impedance anisotropy has allowed us to estimate λ_c(0)≈50 µm in BSCCO crystals overdoped with oxygen (T _c≈84 K) and λ_c(0)≈150 µm at the optimal doping level (T _c≈90 K).     

Oxygen ordering and superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7-δ

Samples of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ in which concentration of oxygen was varied by annealing at different temperatures between 200 and 900C followed by quenching to 77 K have been investigated by carrying out measurements of oxygen stoichiometry, room temperature resistivity, superconductivity and crystal structure. It is shown that the overall oxygen stoichiometry alone does not adequately characterize the superconducting and normal state behaviour;T _c, ΔT _cand room temperature resistivity also vary with the heat treatment conditions. This implies a dependence of the physical properties on the details of the distribution of the oxygen atoms. The results show a definite correlation betweenT _cand resistivity hitherto not reported.     

The soft mode and phase transition in Pb1-xSnxTe

The ferroelectric phase transition critical temperature T_c and static lattice dielectric constant ?₀ have been calculated within the isotropic two-band model for a degenerate narrow-gap semiconductor. The carrier concentration dependence of T_c has been discussed and results compared with the experiments on Pb_1-xSn_xTe.     

Growth of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca3Cu4−yZnyO12−δ superconductor with optimum carriers

We have tried to vary the carriers concentration in Cu_0.5Tl_0.5Ba₂Ca₃Cu_4?yZn_yO_12?δ (y = 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5) superconductor with the help of post-annealing experiments carried out in nitrogen, oxygen and air and to investigate its effects on the superconductivity parameters. The zero resistivity critical temperature [T_c(R = 0)], the magnitude of diamagnetism and critical current [I_c(H = 0)] are found to increase in Zn free samples after post-annealing in oxygen and air, while these superconducting properties have been suppressed after post-annealing in nitrogen at 550 °C for 6 h. The post-annealing of Zn-doped samples in air has marginally increased the superconducting properties, while these properties have been suppressed after post-annealing in nitrogen and oxygen. These studies have led us to the definite conclusion that the Zn-doped material has grown with optimum carriers concentration.     

Superconductivity and electrical resistivity of amorphous Nb75Ge25 and Nb80Si20 after heavy ion irradiation at low temperature

Low temperature irradiation of thin films of Nb₇₅Ge₂₅ (T_c = 3.2 K) and Nb₈₀Si₂₀ (T_c = 4.7 K) with 20 MeV sulfur ions leads to an increase of T_c of about 0.5 K and a decrease of ? of about 1.5 to 3.5%. Annealing up to room temperature partly restores the initial values. Qualitatively the results can be explained by irradiation induced smearing of the structure factor, which is partially recovered by annealing.     

Quasi two-dimensional magnetic order of Tb3+ spins in Pb2Sr2Tb1−x Ca x Cu3O8 (x = 0 and 0.5)

Neutron diffraction experiments were performed to study the magnetic ordering of the Tb⁺³ sublattice in the high-T _c superconductor Pb₂Sr₂Tb_1?x Ca _x Cu₃O₈ (x = 0.5) and the undoped parent compound (x = 0). For the parent compound, a quasi two dimensional (2D) phase with a finite antiferromagnetic correlation along the c-direction and a three dimensional phase with ferromagnetic correlation along the c-direction were found. The coexistence of the two phases is likely to be related to structural imperfections such as stacking faults, strains, oxygen disorder or cation vacancies. The superconductor with a superconducting transition temperature of T _c = 71K exhibits a quasi 2D magnetic ordering of the Tb sublattice with a finite ferromagnetic correlation along the c-direction. The correlation lengths along the c-direction for the quasi 2D phases are 32 and 26Å for x = 0 and 0.5, respectively. The magnetic saturation moments are with 9.1 and 8.8 μ _B in excellent agreement with our mean-field crystal-field calculations. 2D short range correlation could be observed up to about 8T _N and is described by a Lorentzian distribution of magnetic intensity perpendicular to the 2D rod in reciprocal space.     

The Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient in hole-doped manganites

A systematic study of the Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient (NEC) in hole-doped manganites of the LaMnO₃ and SmMnO₃ systems was carried out at temperatures both above and below the point of transition to the magnetically ordered state (T _c). The results obtained for T > T _c suggest that conduction is mediated here by small-radius polarons. For all the compositions studied, the Nernst mobilities at T = 300 K are small (of the order of 0.1–2 cm²/V s) and the carrier relaxation time at T > T _c increases with carrier energy. At temperatures below T _c, the NEC exhibits an anomalous behavior. The giant NEC effect was observed, which consists in a strong dependence of the NEC on applied magnetic field and the presence of a peak in the temperature dependence of the NEC at T ≈ T _c. Near the transition to the magnetically ordered state, the NEC follows a behavior similar to that of colossal magnetoresistance and giant magnetothermoelectric power. A possible origin of the anomalous NEC behavior at T < T _c is discussed.     

Electrical resistivity of iron-vanadium alloys between 78 and 1200 K

Electrical resistivity (?) of FeV alloys containing 0.5, 0.9, 2.7, and 6.1 at% V has been measured as a function of temperature (T) between 78 and 1200 K. The ? vs. T curves exhibit a change in the slope at the ferromagnetic Currie temperature (T_c). The d?/dT vs. T curves in the neibhorhood of T_c are similar to the corresponding plot for pure Fe. Our studies confirm the previously observed anomalous effect of V on T_c of Fe, i.e., that T_c increase with small additions of V to Fe. The critical index λ⁺ associated with the power law of d?/dT just above T_c has been determined as a function of V concentration.     

Magnetically tunable nonlinear current–voltage characteristics in oxygen deficient manganite perovskites

La_0.667Ca_0.333Mn_1−xM_xO_3−δ (M=Mg, Li or Re) exhibit insulating behaviour and nonlinear current–voltage (J–E) relationship with voltage-limiting characteristics at temperatures below the ferromagnetic transition (T_c). The high current region is set in at field strengths <60 V/cm. Nonlinearity exponent, α in the relation J=kE^α increases inversely with temperature. In presence of an external magnetic field, the J–E curves show higher current density at lower field strengths. Microstructural studies indicate that there is no segregation of secondary phases in the grain boundary regions. There is remarkable changes in ρ(T) as well as J–E curves with the grain size. Annealing studies in lower p_O2 atmospheres indicate that there is significant out-diffusion of oxygen ions through the grain boundary layer (GBL) regions creating oxygen vacancies in the GBL regions. The concentration of Mn⁴⁺ ions is lowered at the GBL due to oxygen vacancies, reducing the probability of hopping and resulting in insulating behaviour. Therefore an insulating barrier is introduced between two conducting grains and the carrier motion between the grains is inhibited. Thus below T_c, where sufficient increase in resistivity is observed the conduction may be arising as a result of spin dependent tunneling across the barrier. External electric field lowers the barrier height and establishes carrier transport across the barrier. Above certain field strength, barrier height diminishes significantly and thereby allowing large number of carriers for conduction, giving rise to highly nonlinear conductivity.     

Effects of Ni and Co doping on the physical properties of tetragonal FeSe0.5Te0.5 superconductor

Isoelectronic Tellurium (Te) substitution for Selenium (Se) in the tetragonal phase of FeSe (β-FeSe) increases the superconducting transition temperature (T_c) by applying a negative pressure on the lattice. However, the normal state resistivity increases and shows semi-metallic behavior for samples with higher Te concentration. With increasing Te concentration, the T_c increases and reaches a maximum for FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 and then decreases with further increase of Te. We have investigated the effect of Cobalt (Co) and Nickel (Ni) doping in FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 in the nominal composition range Fe_1?xTM_xSe_0.5Te_0.5 (TM = Co (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) and Ni (x = 0.05, 0.1)). Both Co and Ni doping suppress T_c and drives the system to metal–insulator transition. The in-plane (‘a’) and out-of-plane (‘c’) lattice constants decrease with increasing dopant concentration.