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.

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Effect of substitution of Ce on superconducting properties of Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2−x Ce x Cu3O10+δ system

We have investigated the superconducting properties of the Bi_1.7 Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca_2−xCe _x Cu₃O_10+δ system with x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.1 by X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility. The substitution of Ce for Ca has been found to drastically change the superconducting properties of the system. X-ray diffraction studies on these compounds indicate decrease in the c-parameter with increased substitution of Ce at Ca site and volume fraction of high T _c (2 : 2 : 2 : 3) phase decreases and low T _c phase increases. The magnetic susceptibility of this compound shows that the diamagnetic on set superconducting transition temperature (onset) varies from 109 K to 51 K for x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.1. These results suggest the possible existence of Ce in a tetravalent state rather than a trivalent state in this system; that is, Ca²⁺ → Ce⁴⁺ replacement changes the hole carrier concentration. Hole filling is the cause of lowering T _c of the system.     

K_(0.8)Fe_2Se_2晶体c轴向载流子输运特性的研究

成功制备了超导临界温度为27 K的K0.8Fe2Se2晶体,并详细研究了晶体c轴向的载流子输运特性.结合X射线衍射、光学显微镜下的形貌、变温电阻率的测试结果表明,样品存在有"相分离",但是这类层状铁基超导体材料的两个相不是简单沿c轴向层状交替排布的,而应该是沿着c轴向存在弱联系的金属相链接通路,金属相部分形成近3维的空间网状链接模式.热导率测试和复阻抗谱z(ω,T0)的研究表明超导晶体沿着c轴方向存在有大量的相界面,所束缚的极化电荷致使相对介电常数达到106数量级,相应地在10 MHz附近出现负的相位特征.     

Influence of lattice instability on the superconducting properties of “La3S4”

The normal state properties (the electronic specific heat constant, Debye temperature and electrical resistivity) and superconducting state properties [the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, and the upper critical field at 0 K, H_c²(0)] have been studied in the La₃S₄-La₂S₃ system. The superconducting properties and the electronic specific heat constant exhibit the maximum values in the alloy with the lowest sulfur content that does not undergo a low temperature crystallographic transformation. At lower sulfur contents the alloys exhibit a cubic to tetragonal transformation at ～80 K with a serious degradation in their superconducting properties, especially H_c² (0). These alloys clearly illustrate that materials which are almost but not quite unstable are good superconductors, relative to the more stable compositions.     

Fast neutron irradiation of YBa2Cu3O7

The influence of fast neutron irradiation on the superconducting transition temperature,T _c , the transition width, upper critical field,B _c2 , and critical current density,j _c , has been investigated in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ up to a fluence of 10¹⁹ cm^–2 (E>1 MeV). TheT _c degradation with fluence is slightly less than in PbMo₆S₈, but larger than in A 15 compounds. The irradiation induced increase of the normal state resistivity is accompanied by a remarkable decrease of both the intergrainj _c and the superconducting volume fraction.     

Pulsed laser deposition conditions and superconductivity of FeSe thin films

We report the effects of growth conditions on the superconducting properties of FeSe films epitaxially grown on LaAlO₃ substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Customary materials characterization techniques [X-ray diffraction (XRD), in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in-situ ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)] revealed the films had a c-axis oriented tetragonal structure with lattice constants dependent on the growth temperature (varied from 100 to 600°C). The standard four-point probe method was used to measure the resistivity and superconducting transitions. Films grown at 400–550°C showed a clear superconducting onset but no zero resistance down to 2 K. The highest superconducting onset temperature (T_c^onsetT_{\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{onset}}) of 8 K was observed in films grown at 500°C and the onset temperature was clearly correlated to the ratio of the lattice constants (c/a). As the thickness of the FeSe films increased from 27 nm to 480 nm, T_c^onsetT_{\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{onset}} also increased as the strain in the system was relaxed.     

Normal state resistivity and Tç studies of superconducting Ti1−xSbx system

The superconducting transition temperature (T_c) and the temperature dependence of the normal state resistivity of the Ti_1?xSb_x system between T_c and 300 K have been studied. The T_c values are found to depend on the heat treatment of the samples. Below 40 K, all alloys show a T² dependence of the resistivity. However, the sample with x = 0.53 is not superconducting and shows a different behaviour of the resistivity.     

Orthorhombic structure: a necessity in superconducting 1-2-3 compounds

X-ray and resistivity measurements on YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (1-2-3) samples show that for the same but low oxygen concentration,δ⋍0·55, no superconducting transition down to 4·2 K is observed for the tetragonal phase samples while the orthorhombic phase shows aT _c ∼ 31 K. The effect of oxygen concentration onT _c is isolated.T _c=91±1 K has, however, been observed continuously for the normal oxygen annealed samples,δ⋍0·07. The experimental results suggest strongly the necessity of the 1-2-3 compound to be in the orthorhombic phase for the superconducting mechanism to be operative.     

Intrinsic tunneling study of underdoped Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ superconductors

We report on a tunneling study of underdoped submicron Bi₂Sr_2-xLa_xCuO_6+δ (La-Bi2201) intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs), whose self-heating is sufficiently suppressed. The tunneling spectra are measured from 4.2 K up to the pseudogap opening temperature of T^* = 260 K. The gap value found from the spectral peak position is about 35 meV and has a weak temperature dependence both below and above the superconducting transition temperature of T_c = 29 K. Since the superconducting gap should have a value of 10-15 meV, our results indicate that the pseudogap (～35 meV) plays an important role in the underdoped La-Bi2201 intrinsic tunneling spectroscopy down to the lowest temperature of 4.2 K. However, the contribution of the superconducting gap can be separated by normalizing the spectra to the one near and above T_c, which shows that the IJJs can be a useful tool for the study of the electronic properties of the La-Bi2201 cuprate superconductors.     

The pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature of LaT4P12(T = Fe,Ru, Os)

The superconducting transition temperature, T_c, of the LaT₄P₁₂ compounds with T = Fe, Ru, or Os has been measured under hydrostatic pressure P up to 1.8 GPa. The T = Fe compound exhibits a substantial increase of T_c from T_c (P = 0) = 4.1 K at a rate (dT_c/dP)_P=0= +7.2 x 10^-1 K/GPa. In contrast, the Ru and Os compounds exhibit only weak decreases of T_c from T_c (P = 0) = 7.2 K and 1.8 K with (dT_c/dP)_P=0= -1.6 x 10^-1 K/GPa and -9.5 x 10^-2 K/GPa, respectively. An analysis of this strikingly divergent behavior of T_c(P) in terms of the structural characteristics of the RT₄X₁₂ class of compounds where R = rare earth element, T = Fe, Ru, or Os, and X = P, As, or Sb suggests that T_c(P) for these materials consists of two competing contributions: a depression of T_c due to the compression of the lattice (i.e., decrease in volume), and an enhancement of T_c due to the effect of pressure on La itself.     

Searching for key parameter for determining Tc in Fe-based superconductors: Study of P/As substitution in RFe(P,As)(O,F) [R=La and Nd]

We have investigated the relation between the temperature-dependence of resistivity and superconducting transition temperature T_c in RFeP_1−xAs_xO_0.90F_0.10 (x=0-1.0) (R=La and Nd). In contrast to the linear change of the crystal structure with increasing x, the temperature dependence of resistivity and T_c show non-monotonous x-dependence. When the As concentration x is increased, the temperature-dependence of resistivity changes from T² to T-linear, and T_c distinctly increases in all the La compounds and the Nd ones with x<0.60. The results indicate that the substitution of As for P induces the spin fluctuation and resultantly enhances T_c. On the other hand, we could not find any relation between the temperature-dependence of resistivity and T_c in the Nd samples with x>0.60. This may suggest the existence of other parameters for determining T_c besides the antiferromagnetic correlation in this system.     

Electrical properties of thin films of Eu2O3 substituted compounds

Europium oxide (Eu₂O₃) substituted compound has been prepared by solid-solid reaction of the powders of Eu₂O₃, BaCO₃ and CuO at 950°C for 16 hours. The thin films have been deposited by high vacuum evaporation technique (vacuum ≈ 10⁻⁶ torr). The variation of current (I) with voltage (V) at room temperature (RT) i.e. 294 K and in ice (273 K) are found to be linear. The variation of electrical resistivity (ρ) with temperature (T) by heating the sample above RT has been determined. Resistivity is found to decrease with increase in temperature. Further the variation of electrical resistivity (ρ) with temperature (T) from 77 K, liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT), to 270 K has also been determined. It is observed that resistivity suddenly becomes zero at around 87 K. Thus the prepared material has superconducting properties with superconducting transition temperature, T _c at 87 K.      

Insulator-metal transition in the single-crystal high-T c superconductor Bi-2201

Variations in the temperature behavior of resistivity, ρ(T), in the ab plane of the anisotropic single-crystal high-T _c superconductor BiSrCuO (2201 phase) have been observed at the insulator-metal (IM) transition. At low temperatures, as one approaches the transition, the Mott relation for two dimensions, ln ρ ∝ T ^−1/3, changes to ln ρ ∝ T ^−1/2, which corresponds to hopping conduction with a Coulomb gap in the density of states. Negative temperature slopes were revealed in the samples near the transition. Estimates suggest that superconductivity in these samples sets in from the Anderson insulator state. The behavior of the width of the superconducting transition and of the temperature of its onset, T _con, at the IM transition has been studied from measurements of the ac magnetic susceptibility. It is shown that in the vicinity of the IM transition the superconducting transition becomes broader, and the onset of the transition T _con shifts toward higher temperatures. This behavior is attributed to nonuniform superconductivity resulting from formation in the crystal of superconducting droplets with different values of T _c , which is caused by fluctuations in the local density of states due to the inherent disorder in the crystal. In these conditions, superconductivity has a percolation character. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1190–1194 (July 1998)     

Transport properties of the Anderson lattice

Transport properties including electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, Lorenz number and a.c. conductivity are evaluated in an approximate fashion for the Anderson lattice model for six-fold degenerate Ce ions. Coherence (Bloch's theorem) is explicitly included while the effects of intersite interactions which may be responsible for magnetic and superconducting instabilities are neglected. The calculations utilize the AverageT-matrix Approximation (ATA) with the self-consistent Non-Crossing Approximation (NCA) perturbation theory employed to give the single siteT-matrix estimate. The resistivity peaks near the characteristic Kondo temperatureT ₀, with high temperature logarithmic decrease and low temperatureT ² behavior. The thermoelectric power is positive and similar to the impurity result except for low temperatures; sign changes in the thermopower are in principle possible with momentum dependent hybridization. Frequency and temperature dependent optical conductivity calculations are in qualitative agreement with experimental data, although a suitably defined optical effective mass and scattering rate do not agree at least for large orbital degeneracy. The behavior of these latter quantities is qualitatively different for twofold degeneracy. Unanswered questions arising from the experimental literature are summarized.     

Sc doping of MgB2: the structural and electronic properties of Mg1−xScxB2

We have investigated the effect of electron doping on the superconducting properties of MgB₂. For the purpose we have synthesized several samples along the Mg_1−xSc_xB₂ section. The X-ray diffraction measurements reveal small changes in the lattice parameters suggesting that the Sc doping could be considered to simply fill the boron σ bands. Radio frequency surface resistivity measurements has been used to obtain the variation of T_c with Sc doping. Increasing the Sc content, the experimental T_c diverges from the T_c predicted by the BCS single band theory showing the key role of interchannel pairing near a shape resonance.     

Magnetic properties of the new organic superconductor λ-(BETS)2GaCl4

This papr discusses the results of the first investigation of the magnetic properties of the organic superconductor λ-(BETS)₂GaCl₄. It is shown that the transition to the superconducting state begins at T _c≈7 K, which is considerably lower than the value T _c≈10 K determined from resistive measurements. The estimated value of the critical current density turns out to be two orders of magnitude lower than in superconductors of the family κ-(ET)₂ X. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 760–762 (August 1997)     

Electronic states of boron in superconducting MgB2 studied by11B NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rateT ₁⁻¹ of¹¹B have been measured in superconducting polycrystalline MgB₂ with 7_c^ons = 39.5 K. It is shown that (T ₁T⁻¹ and the Knight shiftK _s are independent of temperature and nearly isotropic aboveT _c. Both of these quantities are decreased gradually in going to the superconducting state. According to NMR data the density of states near the Fermi level is flat at the scale of about 500 K. Some conclusions on the orbital content of the density of states at the Fermi level were drawn and compared with the results of the band structure calculations.     

Pressure effects on the superconducting transition of ytterbium doped Ce0.6Yb0.4FeAsO0.9F0.1

The Effect of pressure on the superconducting transition temperature of Yb doped Ce_0.6Yb_0.4FeAsO_0.9F_0.1 has been investigated for the first time using resistivity and magnetization studies. Increase in chemical pressure by substitution of smaller Yb³⁺ ions in place of Ce³⁺ ions results in a significant enhancement of T_c from 38 K (Yb free) to 47 K (40% Yb). Enhancement in T_c with external pressure has been observed for this compound up to a maximum value of T_c = 48.7 K at 1 GPa, beyond which T_c starts decreasing monotonously. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

FeTe as a candidate material for new iron-based superconductor

Tetragonal FeSe is a superconductor with a transition temperature T_c of 8 K and shows a huge enhancement of T_c with applying pressure. Tetragonal FeTe has a structure very analogous to superconducting FeSe, but does not show superconducting transition. We investigated the pressure effect of resistivity on FeTe. The resistivity at room temperature decreased with increasing pressure. An anomaly in resistivity around 80 K shifted towards a lower temperature with increasing pressure.     

Structure and superconducting properties of Bi2Ba2−xMxCuO6+δ

The effect of oxygen nonstoichiometry and barium cation substitution on the structure and superconducting properties of Bi₂Ba_2−xM_xCuO_{6 +δ}(M = Sr, Ru, Rh, Pd, In, Sb or Pb;xchanged from 0 to 0.2) were studied. The cation-substituted samples annealed in oxygen flow contain a superconducting phase withT_c^initnear 95 K.