Crystal chemistry of the Tl2−xBa2Ca n Cu n+1O2n+6 (n=0, 1, 2) high-T c superconductors

We report on a comparative crystal chemical study of the Tl_2–xBa₂Ca _n Cu _n+1O_2n+6(n=0, 1, 2) high-T _c superconductors. Superconducting properties were determined by DC-conductivity and-susceptibility measurements. An X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the nonstoichiometry of the compounds as a link between structural and superconducting behavior. A comparison of the different structures gives evidence that T1 deficiency in the TlO double layers increases with increasingn; this deficiency causes apparent Cu valences larger than 2+in the superconducting phases thus maintaining the charge balance. By extracting appropriate chemical formulas and performing a bond strength calculation we obtained the mixed-valent oxidation state of copper for the superconducting tetragonal phases as being 2.17+(n=0), 2.25+(n=1) and 2.31+(n=2) respectively; for the non-superconducting orthorhombic phase Tl_2–xBa₂CuO_6–y a Cu valence of about 2+is suggested.     

Modulated structure of the superconducting compounds Bi2Sr2Ca n-1Cu n O y withn=1 and 2

The incommensurate modulated structures of high-T _c superconducting phases Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n–1Cu _n O _y (n=1 and 2) have been studied using symmetry properties of four-dimensional super-spacegroups and electron diffraction as well as high resolution electron microscopy are used to describe the properties of the incommensurate modulated structure in the compounds. The main results are planar monoclinic symmetryP ^B _{2/b 11} orP B _{b 1} for Bi₂Sr₂CuO _y (n=1) and orthorhombic symmetryN ₁₁₁ ^Bbmb orN ₁₁₁ ^Bb2b for Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O _y (n=2). The temperature dependence of the modulated structure of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O _y has been investigated from –190°C to 800°C. Some structure properties of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O _y (n=3) are presented for comparison.     

Low energy excitation and scaling in Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(n-1)Cu(n)O(2n+4) (n=1-3): angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) has been performed on the single- to triple-layered Bi-family high-T (c) superconductors (Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(n-1)Cu(n)O(2n+4), n=1-3). We found a sharp coherent peak as well as a pseudogap at the Fermi level in the triple-layered compound. Comparison among three compounds has revealed a universal rule that the characteristic energies of superconducting and pseudogap behaviors are scaled with the maximum T (c).     

Interplay of self-doping and disorder in epitaxial Bi2Sr2Ca(n-1)Cu(n)O(2n+4+x) (n = 1,2) thin films under heavy-Ion irradiation

We propose a novel mechanism for the modification of T(c) in Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(n-1)Cu(n)O(2n+4+x) epitaxial thin films (2212 and 2201) under energetic heavy-ion irradiation. By irradiating films with various oxygen content, we show from the temperature dependence of the resistance that irradiation always produces a doping effect superimposed on the damage caused to the sample. The effect is larger in 2201 than in 2212 thin films. The T(c) decrease observed by irradiating optimally doped films is partially due to this doping effect. Irradiation of semiconducting samples restores metallic superconducting behavior.     

Charge-transfer excitations in the model superconductor HgBa(2)CuO(4+delta)

We report a Cu -edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) study of charge-transfer excitations in the 2-8 eV range in the structurally simple compound HgBa(2)CuO(4+delta) at optimal doping (T(c)=96.5 K). The spectra exhibit a significant dependence on the incident photon energy which we carefully utilize to resolve a multiplet of weakly dispersive (<0.5 eV) electron-hole excitations, including a mode at 2 eV. The observation of this 2 eV excitation suggests the existence of a remnant charge-transfer gap deep in the superconducting phase. Quite generally, our results, which include additional data for the Mott insulator La(2)CuO(4), demonstrate the importance of exploring the incident photon-energy dependence of the RIXS cross section.     

A Mössbauer study of Bi2Sr2Ca n-1 (Cu,Fe) n O y (n=1,2,3) oxide superconductors

Mossbauer spectra of⁵⁷Fe have been measured for Bi₂Sr₂Ca_n-1(Cu, Fe)_nO_y (n=1,2,3) oxide superconductors. Each spectrum was decomposed to a single set or two sets of double peaks. The assignment of these peaks to the specific sites for the iron atoms are discussed. The 4 fold planar sites of Cu₂O plane are preferentially substituted by Fe atoms.     

Preparative and Mössbauer studies of Bi2Sr2Ca n-1Cu n O y compounds withn=2 or 3

The influence of sintering temperatures and nominal starting compositions on the phase contents of polycrystalline Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n-1Cu _n O_4+2n samples are reported. After every sintering the samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction and magnetic AC susceptibility measurements. For Mössbauer studies, in each case also a corresponding specimen containing⁵⁷Fe was synthetized. The identification of various superconducting Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n-1Cu _n O_4+2n phases on the basis of Mössbauer spectra consisting usually of three quadrupole doublets is discussed.     

Effect of Sb substitution on the superconductivity of Bi2(Ca,Sr) n+1Cu n O4n+2 (n=1, 2 and 3) systems

Effect of incorporation of Sb in place of Bi in the bismuth cuprate superconductors has been examined. The nominal compositions studied are MCa_1·5Sr_1·5Cu₂O_8+δ and MCa₂Sr₂Cu₃O_10+δ, whereM=Bi_2−x Sb _x or Bi_1·5−x Sb _x Pb_0·5. Different preparative routes such as the ceramic method, the matrix route as well as the melt route were employed to prepare the materials. No indication of either Sb entering the lattice or enhancement ofT _c is noted from resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and microwave absorption measurements. Communication No. 162 from Materials Research Centre.     

Electronic structure of the trilayer cuprate superconductor Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10+delta)

The low-energy electronic structure of the nearly optimally doped trilayer cuprate superconductor Bi(2)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10+delta) is investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The normal state quasiparticle dispersion and Fermi surface and the superconducting d-wave gap and coherence peak are observed and compared with those of single- and bilayer systems. We find that both the superconducting gap magnitude and the relative coherence-peak intensity scale linearly with T(c) for various optimally doped materials.     

Pressure-tuned collapse of the Mott-like state in Ca(n+1)Ru(n)O(3n+1) (n=1,2): Raman spectroscopic studies

We report a Raman scattering study of the pressure-induced collapse of the Mott-like phases of Ca3Ru2O7 (T(N)=56 K) and Ca2RuO4 (T(N)=110 K). The pressure dependence of the phonon and two-magnon excitations in these materials indicate (i) a T approximately 0 pressure-induced collapse of the antiferromagnetic (AF) insulating phase above P(*) approximately 55 kbar in Ca3Ru2O7 and P(*) approximately 5-10 kbar in Ca2RuO4, (ii) a remarkable insensitivity of the exchange interaction to pressure in both systems, and (iii) evidence for persistent AF correlations above the critical pressure of Ca2RuO4, suggestive of phase separation involving AF insulator and ferromagnetic metal phases.     

Direct evidence for an intrinsic square vortex lattice in the overdoped high- T(c) superconductor La(1.83)Sr(0.17)CuO(4+delta)

We report here the first direct observations of a well ordered vortex lattice in the bulk of a La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4+delta) single crystal (slightly overdoped, x = 0.17). Our small angle neutron scattering investigation of the mixed phase reveals a crossover from triangular to square coordination with increasing magnetic field. The existence of an intrinsic square vortex lattice has never been observed in high-temperature superconductors and is indicative of the coupling of the vortex lattice to a source of anisotropy, such as those provided by a d-wave order parameter or the presence of stripes.     

Mutual conversion of (BiPb)2Sr2Ca n−1Cu n O x HTSCs with n=1, 2, 3: Temperature and oxygen partial-pressure dependence

Il Nuovo Cimento D - The transformation of the 2223 (n=3) phase in the 2201 (n=1) phase by heating the sample in Ar atmosphere was studied. The subsequent cycling of the sample temperature and the...