Effect of K-doping to the weak link behaviour of (Cu0.5Tl0.5−xKx)Ba2Ca2Cu3O10−δ superconductors

A systematic study of the weak link behaviour for (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5?xK_x)Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10?δ (x = 0, 0.25) superconductors samples has been carried out using electrical resistivity and AC-susceptibility techniques. The K-doped (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5?xK_x)Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10?δ samples were synthesized by solid-state reaction method. In magnetic susceptibility measurements, the real (χ′) and imaginary (χ″) parts of the magnetic susceptibility of (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5?xK_x)Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10?δ (x = 0, 0.25) samples were measured as a function of temperature under various DC-magnetic fields up to 172 Oe. It is observed from these studies that the magnitude of the diamagnetism is substantially enhanced by K-doping. The possible reasons for the enhanced magnitude of diamagnetism have been investigated. It is observed from in-field magnetic measurements that the inter-grain coupling is improved with the K-doping. It is concluded from these studies that potassium atoms appearing at the crystal boundaries enhance inter-grain coupling and pinning mechanism in K-doped (Cu_0.5Tl_0.25K_0.25)Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10?δ superconductors.     

Si doped Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca2Cu3O10−δ superconductors

The Si doped (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5)Ba₂Ca₂Cu_3−ySi_yO_10−δ (y=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25) superconductor samples have been synthesized to investigate the effect of mobile carriers on the critical temperature and magnitude of diamagnetism of this family of cuprates. The Si doped samples have tetragonal structure as observed from the X-ray diffraction spectra. The c-axis length of the unit cell of (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5)Ba₂Ca₂Cu_3−ySi_yO_10−δ was increased after the increase of Si concentration, whereas the critical temperature and the magnitude of diamagnetism have been decreased. The decrease in T_c(0) and magnitude of diamagnetism is possibly due to the deficiency of carriers in CuO₂/SiO₂ planes caused by the +4 state of Si atoms. However, the post-annealing of these samples in oxygen atmosphere has increased the critical temperature and the magnitude of diamagnetism. The FTIR absorption measurements of (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5)Ba₂Ca₂Cu_3−ySi_yO_10−δ samples have shown a softening of the apical oxygen mode of the type Cu(1)O_ACu(2) and TlO_ACu(2) with increased concentration of Si in the unit cell; the softening of this mode is directly linked with the increase in the c-axis lattice parameter of the (Cu_0.5Tl_0.5)Ba₂Ca₂Cu_3−ySi_yO_10−δ superconductor.     

Multigap superconductivity in doped p-type cuprates

Andreev and tunneling spectroscopy studies of Bi₂Sr₂Ca _{n ? 1}Cu _n O_{2n + 4 + δ}, HgBa₂Ca _{n ? 1}Cu _n O_{2n + 2 + δ} and Tl₂Ba₂Ca _{n ? 1}Cu_{2n + 4 + δ} have shown that superconductivity in single-layer (n = 1) and two-layer (n = 2) phases has a single-gap character. Qualitatively different results were obtained for three-layer phases. In doped p-type Hg-1223, Bi-2223, and Tl-2223 samples two (or three) superconducting gaps were observed. The existence of multigap superconductivity in superconducting cuprates with n ≥ 3 is explained by a difference in doping levels of outer (OP) and internal (IP) CuO₂ planes.     

61Cu(61Ni) and 133Ba(133Cs) Mössbauer emission spectroscopy of Tl2Ba2Ca n−1CunO2n+4

The parameters of the electric-field gradient tensor at copper and barium sites in the Tl₂Ba₂Ca _n?1Cu_nO_2n+4 (n=1,2,3) lattice have been determined by ⁶¹Cu(⁶¹Ni) and ¹³³Ba(¹³³Cs) Mössbauer emission spectroscopy, and calculated in the point-charge approximation. The calculated parameters can be reconciled with experiment if one assumes that the holes produced as the valence state of a part of thallium atoms is lowered are localized predominantly on the oxygen sublattice lying in the same plane with copper atoms [in the Cu(2) plane in the Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ lattice]. ¹³³Ba(¹³³Cs) Mössbauer emission spectroscopy data agree qualitatively with the proposed models of charge distribution in the Tl₂Ba₂Ca _n?1Cu_nO_2n+4 lattices.     

Effective atomic charges and charge transport in superconductor lattices

Effective atomic charges in Rba₂Cu₃O₇ compounds (here R stands for yttrium or a rare-earth metal), Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀, and Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ have been determined. In Rba₂Cu₃O₇, the holes are shown to be delocalized primarily on the oxygen-chain sublattice. Two models of charge distribution within the lattices of Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ and Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ are proposed, which assume the presence of holes at oxygen sites in the Cu(2)-O plane but differ in the occupation of the 3d shell of Cu atoms at the nodes of Cu(1). The atomic charges of Tl, Bi, and Cu(1) on these two latter lattices are possibly controllable. The results obtained are shown to be qualitatively consistent with Hall measurements of the hole concentration and of its temperature dependence in the compounds studied. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 2118–2122 (December 1997)     

Particle size effect of a.c. superconducting properties in compound

Using a new starting material of Ba₂Cu₃O₅ and a three step heat treatment, single phase Tl₂Ca₁Ba₂Cu₂O₈ high- superconducting samples have been prepared, possessing the onset- and critical temperatures K and K. The morphology dependent value of is 17 Oe, 8 Oe and 5 Oe at 77 K in the case of bulk, crushed and powdered materials, respectively. The a.c. susceptibility, r.f. susceptibility and microwave absorption properties show a significant dependence on the particle size with a sharp change in the interval between 750 μm and 1200 μm. These experiments provide characteristic parameters for intergrain material (treated as 3D Josephson network) as mm, Oe and A/cm² at 77 K. The data are controlled by modulated microwave absorption measurements. The results obtained can be explained well both by the finite size junction model and cavity mode absorption model. The Josephson network is determined unambiguously by metallic S-N-S weak links. Received 10 October 1998     

Studies on fabrication of Ag/Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10/CdSe heterostructures with electrochemical technique

The Ag/Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀/CdSe heterostructure was fabricated at room temperature by soft electrochemical processing technique for the first time. The formation of the heterostructure with non-diffusive interfaces was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The crystallite sizes determined for Tl-2223 and CdSe films were 33 nm and 25 nm, respectively. The Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ film electrodeposited onto Ag-substrate has shown the superconducting transition temperature T_c at 116.5 K and J_c = 2.1 × 10³ A/cm². These values were found to improve after the deposition of CdSe onto Ag/Tl-2223 films. The effect of red He-Ne laser irradiation on the superconducting properties of heterostructure are studied and discussed at length in this paper.     

Charge states of atoms in the lattices of the high-temperature superconductors Tl2Ba2Ca n−1CunO2n+4 and Bi2Sr2Ca n−1CunO2n+4

To determine the charges of atoms in the lattices of the compounds Tl₂Ba₂Ca _n?1Cu_nO_2n+4 and Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n?1Cu_nO_2n+4 (n=1,2,3), the parameters of the electric field gradient tensor at the copper sites of the indicated lattices were found by emission Mössbauer spectroscopy on the isotopes ⁶¹Cu(⁶¹Ni) and ⁶⁷Cu(⁶⁷Zn), and a calculation of these parameters was performed in the point-charge approximation. A comparison of the resulting values and the published data on ⁶³Cu nuclear quadrupole resonance showed that agreement between the experimental and computed values of the parameters obtains for models in which the holes resulting from a reduction in the valence of some of the thallium (bismuth) atoms are localized predominantly at oxygen sites located in the same plane as the copper atoms (for the compounds Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ and Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀—at oxygen sites in the same plane as the Cu(2) atoms).     

Infrared reflectance spectra and optical conductivity of Tl2CaBa2Cu2O8 and Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3O10 superconducting thin film samples

Films of the Tl₂CaBa₂Cu₂O₈ (Tl2122 phase) and Tl₂Ca₂Ba₂Cu₃O₁₀ (Tl2223 phase) superconductors were prepared by d.c. magnetron sputtering method. Their C-axes were perpendicular to the surface. We measured their infrared (IR) reflectivity spectra and assignments of the phonon oscillators were made. The optical conductivity of Tl2122 and Tl2223 phases in the normal state have been obtained from measurements of the reflectivity over a wide frequency range. The position of the plasma peak is tentatively determined.     

Preparation of Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O thin films by diffusion of Tl into laser evaporated Ba2Ca2Cu3Ox films

Preparation of superconducting Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O thin films by diffusion of Tl into laser evaporated Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x thin films is reported. From a sintered Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x bulk sample we prepared using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, Ba-Ca-Cu-O thin films on sapphire and SrTiO₃ single-crystal substrates. Subsequently the films were loaded with Tl by simultaneously annealing the films together with a sintered Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ sample both enclosed in a small stainless steel box; in our procedure Tl contamination was reduced to a minimum. T_c values near 100 K and critical currents of 5·10³ A/cm² at 77 K were obtained.     

Comparative evaluation of methods for precise determination of oxygen stoichiometry in highT c oxides

A comparative study of the methods for oxygen stoichiometry—direct inert gas fusion method and two indirect iodometric methods—has been carried out. The indirect iodometric method in which Cu(III) is directly estimated, has been found to be more precise. Several samples of YBa₂Cu₃O _x of varyingx, their fluorine-substituted counterparts and also Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O _x and Tl₂Ba₂Ca₁Cu₂O _x have been analysed.     

High-temperature superconductors YBaCu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and Tl<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>BaCa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> with a decreased content of heavy metals (Ba and Tl)

New high-temperature superconductors YBaCu₂O₅ and Tl_1.5BaCa₂Cu_2.5O₈ have been synthesized. They can be considered as a result of the removal of barium cuprate BaCuO₂ from YBa₂Cu₃O₇ and barium cuprate-tallate BaCu_0.5Tl_0.5O₂ from Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu{ia3}O₁₀. The synthesized compounds contain a smaller amount of toxic Ba and Tl. Investigation of electrical conductivity has demonstrated that the values of T _c of synthesized materials are close to T _c of starting materials. The Meissner effect observed for these materials has confirmed their belonging to high-temperature superconductors.     

Andreev states and the Josephson effect in superconducting heterojunctions on thin YBa2Cu3Ox films

Conductance anomalies at low bias voltages and superconducting currents in Au/YBa₂Cu₃O_x and Nb/Au/YBa₂Cu₃O_x heterojunctions in which the c axis of the YBa₂Cu₃O_x (YBCO) epitaxial film is rotated in the (110) YBCO plane through 11° with respect to the normal to the substrate plane were studied experimentally. The films were prepared by laser deposition onto (7 2 10)-oriented NdGaO₃ substrates. The current-voltage characteristics of the heterojunctions exhibit conductance anomalies at low voltages. The behavior of these anomalies is studied at various temperatures and in various magnetic fields. The critical current and Shapiro steps observed in the current-voltage characteristics of Nb/Au/YBa₂Cu₃O_x were evidence of the Josephson effect in these heterojunctions. The experimental results are analyzed in terms of the model of the arising of bound states caused by Andreev reflection in superconductors with d-type symmetry of the superconducting order parameter.     

Anomalous diamagnetic transitions in Ba2Cu3O4Cl2 and Sr2Cu3O4Cl2 antiferromagnets

The magnetic properties of Ba₂Cu₃O₄Cl₂ and Sr₂Cu₃O₄Cl₂ oxychlorides have been studied. A spontaneous manifestation of diamagnetism has been found at quasi-zero and low fields. The temperature of these transitions coincides with the temperature of the antiferromagnetic ordering in Ba₂Cu₃O₄Cl₂ (T _NI ≈ 337 K) and Sr₂Cu₃O₄Cl₂ (T _NI ≈ 386 K). The recorded diamagnetic signal is ?10^?4 emu. It is comparable with the percentage of the superconducting phase in the sample. It is supposed that the arising superconductivity is due to the formation of the superconducting clusters with the direct overlap of the copper d orbitals owing to the frustration processes.     

Studies of thermodynamic fluctuations of thermoelectric power of Tl2Ba2Ca0.8Y0.2Cu2O8+y superconductor

Excess thermoelectric power (TEP) of Tl₂Ba₂Ca_0.8Y_0.2Cu₂O_8+y ceramic superconductor has been studied. Variation of excess TEP with temperature has been found to follow an equation similar to that of Aslamazov and Larkin derived for the variation of excess conductivity with temperature. The superconducting behaviour of the sample, as determined from excess TEP, has been found to be 2-dimensional in nature.     

The structure and defect structure of high-T c superconducting materials in the system Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O

Electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy have been applied to study Tl₂Ba₂CaCu₂O₈ and Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀. The structures only differ in the thickness of the perovskite lamellae and have tetragonal basic unit cells witha=0.385,c=2.93 nm anda=0.385,c=3.58 nm, respectively. A modulation with wave vectors in (100)^* and (010)^* planes occurs in both compounds. This modulation of which the intensity is somewhat sample dependent is much weaker than in the Bi compounds and disappears irreversibly upon heating of the specimen. Intergrowth of lamellae of different phases does occur, although not as frequently as in the Bi compounds.Work performed in the framework of The Institute for Materials Science, I.M.S. (Antwerp) with financial support of I.U.A.P.     

In-plane London penetration depths near the critical temperature of Tl2Ba2Ca n−1Cu n O2n+4 and (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca n−1 Cu n O2n+4 (n=2,3)

From isothermalM(H) curves nearT _c , measured on polycrystalline Tl₂Ba₂Ca _n–1Cu _n O_2n +4 and (Bi, Pb)₂Sr₂Ca _n–1Cu _n O_2n+4 (n=2,3) samples, we deduce the in-plane penetration depths _ab as functions of temperature. An estimate according to the BCS weak-coupling clean-limit fit, which produces the data nearT _c very well, yields _ab(0)=3100 Å, 2320 Å 2210 Å, and 1960 Å for Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈, Bi_1.6Pb_0.4Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀, Tl₂Ba₂CaCu₂O₈, and Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀, respectively. A comparison between strong-coupling and weak coupling fitting curves clearly favours the weak-coupling temperature dependence of _ab nearT _c .     

Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3Oy超导体低场钉扎力的性质

测量了Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_y超导体多晶样品在不同外磁场和不同温度下的磁滞性质,利用临界态方程求出有效钉扎力随外磁场及温度的变化,有效钉扎力包括晶粒界面处及晶粒内的贡献,发现有效钉扎力有峰效应,峰位置随温度降低向较高磁场移动,峰效应被解释为两种钉扎机制产生的,即两种机制的贡献与外磁场的关系不同,还讨论与这些结果有关的问题。 关键词：     

Dielectric properties of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca3Cu4O12−δ bulk superconductor

The dielectric properties of Cu_0.5Tl_0.5Ba₂Ca₃Cu₄O_12−δ superconductor samples were studied at 79 and 290 K by means of capacitance (C) and conductance (G) measurements with the test frequency (f) in the range of 10 kHz to 10 MHz. A negative capacitance (NC) phenomenon has been observed, which is most likely arising due to higher Fermi level of ceramic superconductor samples than metal electrodes. Also the NC may be due to the space charge located at the multiple insulator–superconductor interfaces (grain boundaries) in the materials. The negative dielectric constant (ε′) and loss factor (tan δ) show strong dispersion at low frequencies. The lower thermal agitation at 79 K may enhance the polarizability and hence the dielectric constants (ε′ and ε″).     

The effect of ferrimagnetic ordering in insulating component of composites HTSC+Yttrium Iron Garnet on its transport properties

Composites Y_3/4Lu_1/4Ba₂Cu₃O₇+Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ modeling random network superconductor-ferrimagnetic-superconductor have been prepared and their transport properties (temperature dependences of resistivity ρ and critical current density j_c, current-voltage characteristics) have been studied. Below the superconducting transition temperature T_c, the ρ(T) dependences exhibit a kink at some temperature T_m. The crossover of current-voltage characteristics from ohmic-like behavior in range T_m/T_c to non-linear one below T_m is observed. Transport properties of the ‘benchmark’ composites Y_3/4Lu_1/4Ba₂Cu₃O₇+Y₃Al₅O₁₂ are typical for network superconductor-insulator-superconductor Josephson junction. The behavior observed for Y_3/4Lu_1/4Ba₂Cu₃O₇+Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ composites is attributed to peculiarities of supercurrent carriers tunnelling through ferrimagnetic barriers.