Electrical and thermal properties of bulk superconductors Eu0.95Pr0.05Ba2(Cu1−xMx)3O7−δ (M = Fe,Ni, Zn and Mn)

Measurements of transition temperature, magneto-resistance, thermal conductivity, thermo-electric power and specific heat have been carried out on co-doped samples of Eu_0.95Pr_0.05Ba₂(Cu_1?xM_x)₃O_7?δ (M = Fe, Ni, Zn and Mn) compounds. It is found that all samples exhibit metallic behavior, except the co-doped sample of Fe that shows semiconducting behavior. It is seen that the upper-critical field H_c2 decreases with Pr-doping. However, an increase in H_c2 for dopants like Fe and Mn is observed. Thermal conductivity for the pristine sample of EuBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (Eu-123) exhibits a pronounced hump below the superconducting transition temperature T_C. However, the peak height of the hump decreases with Pr-doping and such a feature is further suppressed in the co-doped samples. The negative sign of the measured thermo-electric power of Eu-123 indicates that the dominant carrier in this sample is electron-like, whereas it turns to hole-like for all of the doped samples. A jump in specific heat C_P is detected in the pure sample of Eu-123 at T_C, while only a change in slope in C_P is seen around the transition temperature in the Pr-doped sample.     

Superlattice structures in solid solution of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ and (Pb,Cu)Sr2(Ca,Y)Cu2O7−δ superconductors

A complete solid solution range exists between the systems YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ and (Pb,Cu)Sr₂(Ca,Y)Cu₂O_7−δ has been found with general stoichiometry (Pb_0.75xCu_1−0.75x)(Sr_2xBa_2−2x)(Ca_0.5xY_1−0.5x)Cu₂O_7−δ. Energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction identified that a true solid solution exists. Superlattice structures observed by electron diffraction across the solid solution range have a modulation range have a modulation periods along a* which can be varied by altering both the compositional parameter x and the overall oxygen content. The existence of these superlattices infers that the solid solution is non-random and therefore thermodynamically non-ideal. The superconducting transition temperatures, T_c, across the solid solution range are also strongly dependent on the composition, x, but no direct relationship with the modulation period has been established. From these studies it may be concluded that the solid solution between known superconductors is possible, although involving some partial ordering of the lattice, but ordering of cations in the rock-salt to charge reservoir layer is not a significant factor in determining the superconducting properities, which depend more closely on the overall composition and hence on the ability of the charge reservoir layer to transfer charge to the superconducting layers.     

Fluctuation-enhanced conductivity and magnetoconductivity of high-quality YBa2Cu3O7−δ crystals

We present measurements of the in-plane resistivity _ab of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– single crystals withT _c 92 K and _ab (100 K)50 cm. The temperature dependence of the fluctuation conductivity and of the magnetoconductivity aboveT _c is analyzed in terms of direct and indirect fluctuation contributions for layered superconductors. The combination of fluctuation conductivity and magnetoconductivity allows to determine both coherence lengths _ab (0) and _c (0) as well as the phase-relaxation time of the pairs in an unequivocal manner. Evidence for clean limit type-II superconductivity in our crystals is given by large values of the mean free pathl _{ab ab} (0).Dedicated to Prof. Dr. F. Hund on the occasion of his 95th birthday     

Thermal and magnetic properties of some YBa2Cu3O7−δ samples

Thermal and magnetic measurements have been performed on several YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ compounds, some ones showing a large content of high T_c (93 K) superconducting phase. A jump in the specific heat ΔCp, is well evidenced at the transition allowing a determination of the ratio ΔCp/T_c ≅ 23 ± 5. mJ/ (mole Cu)K². In addition, an estimation of the γ value (≅ 11 mJ/(mole Cu). K²) has been drawn from the determination of the electronic entropy at T_c. The samples have been characterized by susceptibility, magnetization and resistivity experiments. The critical field slopes at T_c were found to be dHc₁/dT ≅ 17 Oe/K and dHc₂/dT ≅ 20 kOe/K. The results are discussed in the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory.     

Tunneling and point-contact spectroscopy of high-T c superconductors M−Ba2Cu3O7 (M=Y,La, Eu)

Tunneling and point-contact measurements have been performed on different high-T _c superconductors M–Ba₂Cu₃O₇ with M=Y, La, Eu. The average energy gaps deduced from the tunneling spectra are about 2=33 meV for the Y- and La-type samples and about 2=38 meV for the Eu-type samples, which give ratios 2/k _B T _c in the range from 4 to 6. The point-contact characteristics show a distinct minimum in the differential resistance about zero bias and additional sharp spikes up to 40 mV. From these pointcontacts we can give an estimate of the critical current, yielding values in the range from 0.2 to 3 mA.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance,electrical resistivity,and magnetization studies in the high Tc superconductors EuBa2Cu3O9−xandEuBa2 (Cu1−yMy)3O9−x (M = Cr,Mn, Fe,Co, Ni,ORZn)

We have measured electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electrical resistivity, and dc magnetic susceptibility from 2 K – 300 K for the high T_c oxide superconductor EuBa₂Cu₃O_9−x, either undoped or doped with 3d ions (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, or Zn), which presumably substitute at the Cu sites. We have observed an EPR line at low temperatures (T ≤ 40 K), which exhibits an increase in intensity and decrease in field for resonance as the temperature is lowered. The EPR linewidth is also temperature dependent and exhibits a minimum at about 15 K. In some of the samples another EPR signal is observed over the entire temperature range studied, with properties that depend on sample preparation conditions. This signal is likely to be due to small amounts of an additional phase. The behavior and origin of these EPR signals are discussed. The variation of T_c with 3d ion concentration over the range (1 – 8%) is also presented.     

The Hubbard model and pressure effects of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

We apply a mean field approach to the extended Hubbard model on a square lattice to the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ family of superconductors under pressure. The parameters of the tight-binding band are taken from experiments, and the coupling strength U and V are estimated by the zero pressure phase diagram (T_c×n_h). This scheme yields the non-trivial dependence of the superconductor critical temperature T_c as a function of the hole concentration n_h in the CuO₂ plane. With the assumption that the pressure P modifies the potential V and the on-plane hole content n_h, we can distinguish the charge transfer and the intrinsic contribution to T_c(P). We show that the changes on T_c(P) for the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ optimally doped compound at low pressures are almost entirely due to the intrinsic term.     

Effect of deoxygenation on the weak-link behavior of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

A systematic study of the weak-link behavior for YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ polycrystalline samples has been done using the electrical resistivity and AC susceptibility techniques. The experiments were performed with two samples of similar grain, a sample of well-coupled grains, and a deoxygenated sample in such a way that the oxygen mostly comes from the intergrain region. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the AC susceptibility near the transition temperature (T_c) has been done employing Bean's critical state model. The observed variation of intergranular critical current densities (J_c) with temperature indicates that the weak links are changed from superconductor normal–metal superconductor (SNS) for well-coupled samples to superconductor insulator normal–metal–superconductor (SINS) type of junctions for the deoxygenated sample. These results are interpreted in terms of oxygen depletion from grain boundaries, which in turn decreases the intergranular Josephson coupling energy with a concomitant decrease of pinning of the intergranular vortices.     

Thermal conductivity anomalies in GdBa2Cu3O7−x

The measurements of the thermal and electric conductivity of three GdBa₂Cu₃O_7−x samples with different orthorhombic distortions are presented. The electronic component of the total conductivity in the normal state is evaluated. Its value is connected with the magnitude of the change of the slope of the total conductivity λ for the critical temperature T_c.     

Magnetic tri-axial orientation in (Y1−xErx)2Ba4Cu7O15−y superconductors

We report the tri-axial grain-orientation effects under a modulated rotation magnetic field for (Y_1?xEr_x)₂Ba₄Cu₇O_y [(Y, Er)247]. The magnetic easy axis at room temperature was drastically changed around x ～ 0.1; however, the Er-doping levels for the conversion of magnetic easy axes from the c-axis to the ab-direction and from the a- to b-axes were quite different. Tri-axial single-ion magnetic anisotropy of Er³⁺ was roughly 10 times greater than tri-axial magnetic anisotropy generated by both the superconducting CuO₂ plane and the blocking Cu–O chain layer. An appropriate choice of rare-earth (RE) ions in RE-based cuprate superconductors enables the reduction of the required magnetic field for the production of bulks and thick films based on the magnetic orientation technique.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy of 57Fe in high Tc superconductors YBa2Fe3xCu3(1−x)O7−δ

Mossbauer spectroscopy of ⁵⁷Fe in both tetragonal and othorhombic phases of YBa₂(Fe_xCu_1−x)₃O_7−δ, with x = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.10, at temperatures 4.2 K, 75 K, 90 K, and 300 K have been performed. In all samples three major subspectra corresponding to iron in different local environments are observed. It is concluded that Fe substitutes mainly Cul. At 4.2 K, samples with x=0.01 in the “quenched” tetragonal phase exhibit magnetic hyperfine structure, due to slow spin relaxation rates, whereas in the orthorhombic superconducting phase, only samples with x=0.1 exhibit magnetic hyperfine structure, in this case probably due to spin glass magnetic order.     

Effects of nanoscale defects on critical current density of (Y1−xEux)Ba2Cu3O7−δ thin films

In pulsed laser deposition of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ films, defect introduction into the films tends to anisotropically improve the pinning along the H||c direction due to the columnar growth mode of the process. In Eu-substituted samples, however, even though an increase in critical current density (J_c) in the H||c direction was observed for low fields (H = 0.2 T), the improvement was more notable for the H||ab-plane at both low and higher fields. Herein we present detailed TEM microstructural studies to understand these new trends in J_c(H), which are markedly different than flux pinning increases achieved with other methods, for example, with nanoparticle additions. Threading dislocations, observed in the Eu-substituted samples along the c-axis, account for J_c enhancement with H||c at low field. The enhanced ab-planar pinning in the Eu-substituted samples is attributed to the extensive bending of the {0 0 1} lattice planes throughout the film, and the crystal lattice defects with excess Cu–O planes, that were effective in increasing the J_c for H||ab at both low and high fields.     

Ionic and electronic transport in perovskite-type La(Ga,M)O3−δ (M=Mg, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb)

Oxygen ion conduction in La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_1−xM_xO_3−δ (M=Cr, Fe; x=0 – 0.20), LaGa_1−xM_xO_3−δ (M=Co, Ni; x=0.20 – 0.60), LaGa_1−x−yCo_xMg_yO_3−δ (x=0.35 – 0.60; y=0.10 – 0.25) and LaGa_0.85−xMg_0.15(Nb_0.33Mg_0.66)_xO_3−δ (x=0 – 0.20) is reported. At temperatures below 1200 K the ionic conductivity of La(Ga,M)O_3−δ (M=Co, Ni) increases with increasing oxygen nonstoichiometry, but is lower than for La(Ga,Mg)O_3−δ and (La,Sr)GaO_3−δ. Co-doping with Nb and Mg was found to result in decreasing ionic transport in La(Ga,Nb,Mg)O_3−δ due to blocking of oxygen sites by Nb⁵⁺. Small additions of Fe to the B-site of La_0.9Sr_0.1GaO_3−δ increase the ionic conductivity, whereas substitution of Cr for Ga has the opposite effect. Incorporation of transition metal cations into the Ga site leads to a higher p-type electronic conductivity in all studied perovskites. Paper presented at the 6th Euroconference on Solid Sate Ionics, Cetraro, Calabria, Italy, Sept. 12–19, 1999.     

Above-T c anomalies of the infrared-active phonons in RBa2Cu4O8 (R=Dy,Ho) and Y2Ba4Cu7O15−δ superconductors

We report a far-infrared reflectivity study of DyBa₂Cu₄O₈, HoBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– superconductors in the temperature range 10–300 K. The assignment of thez-polarized infrared-acitve vibrations of the rare-earth-ion (R) was verified by the substitution ofR. Since the structure of the Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– compound inz-direction is an ordered sequence of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– and YBa₂Cu₄O₈ blocks, the phonon spectrum of Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– is a superposition of their respective phonon modes. The temperature dependence of the infrared-active phonons in RBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– was analyzed. A narrowing of the plane-oxygen phonon upon sample cooling was found to occur atT _c , as it was reported for single-chain YBa₂Cu₃O₇ materials; however a pronounced frequency softening of this mode for both RBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– was found to start well aboveT _c , suggesting the interaction of infrared-active phonons with an excitation gap similar to that observed in spin-dependent measurements.     

Vortex structure and magnetoresistance of granular YBa2Cu3O7 − δ high-temperature superconductors

The transverse magnetoresistance $ \frac{{\Delta \rho }} {\rho } $ (H _ext) of several series of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.95 high-temperature superconductor samples has been measured in external magnetic fields with a strength of up to H _ext = H _ext ^max ～ 500 Oe over a wide range of transport current strengths (～10 ≤ I ≤ ～1000 mA) at the temperature T = 77.3 K. It has been revealed that there are three different types of field dependences of the magnetoresistance at H _ext ⊥ I with the following typical features: (1) low critical fields of the Josephson weak links H _c2J , a high level of the magnetoresistance, and the appearance of a remanent magnetoresistance Δρ_rem/ρ with a decrease in H _ext to zero; (2) high fields H _c2J and a low level of the magnetoresistance (Δρ_rem/ρ ≡ 0); and (3) relatively high fields H _c2J and the presence of jumps in the dependences $ \frac{{\Delta \rho }} {\rho } $ (H _ext). A comparative analysis of the dependences $ \frac{{\Delta \rho }} {\rho } $ (H _ext) has made it possible to establish the nature of the revealed differences: the first type of behavior corresponds to the existence of a relatively ordered vortex structure of the Bragg-glass type over the entire range of fields H _ext, the second type corresponds to the existence of a disordered vortex structure of the vortex-glass type over the entire range of fields H _ext, and the third type corresponds to the occurrence of Bragg-glass-vortex-glass first-order phase transition in the magnetic field in the range 0 < H _BG-VG < H _ext ^max .     

Magnetotransport study of in situ magnetic field textured Dy1Ba2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

The electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and the Nernst effect have been studied as a function of temperature and magnetic field for a typical superconductor DyBa₂Cu₃O_7– magnetically textured in situ at 1035°C. The three transport coefficients show hybrid microscopic features. In particular, we show the anisotropy with respect to the field direction (H//a,H//c) in all transport coefficients. We verify that Tinkham's law is obeyed for the broadening of the resistive transition in a magnetic field. Similarly we obtainanisotropic broadening exponents for each integrated excess property. From Arrhenius plots we obtain orders of magnitude for the activation energies characterizing each property. They are markedly different from each other.     

Paraconductivity study in ErBa_2Cu_(3-x)M_xO_(7-δ)(M=Zn,Fe) superconductors

We report here the paraconductivity of ErBa_2Cu_(3-x)M_xO_(7-δ)(M=Zn, Fe) superconductors.The logarithmic plots of excess conductivityσand reduced temperatureCreveal two different exponents corresponding to crossover temperature as a result of shifting the order parameter from 2 to 3.The first exponent in the normal field region is close to1,in which the order parameter dimensionality(OPD)is 2.The second exponent in the critical field region is close to 0.5,in which the OPD is 3.The coherence length,interlayer coupling,interlayer separation and carrier concentration decrease with increasing doping content,and their values for Fe samples are different from those of Zn samples.While anisotropy is increased with increasing doping content,it is generally higher for a Zn sample than that for an Fe sample.We also estimate several physical parameters such as upper critical magnetic fields in the a–b plane and along the c axis(Baband Bc),and critical current density J at 0 K.Although Baband Bcare generally increased with doping content increasing,the value of Babis found to be twice more than that of Bc.A similar behavior is obtained for J(0 K)and its value is higher in the Fe sample than that in the Zn sample.These results are discussed in terms of oxygen deficiency,localization of carriers,and flux pinning,which are produced by doping.