Structure and superconductivity of Mg1−xPbxB2

A series of polycrystalline samples of Mg_1−xPb_xB₂ (0≤x≤0.10) were prepared by a solid state reaction method and their structure, superconducting transition temperature and transport properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and resistivity measurements. Mg_1−xPb_xB₂ compounds were shown to adopt an isostructural AlB2-type hexagonal structure in a relatively small range of lead concentration, x≤0.01. The crystalline lattice constants were evaluated and were found to exhibit slight length compression as x increases. The superconducting transition temperature (T_c) steadily decreases with Pb doping. It is suggested that the mechanism of superconductivity reduction by lead doping can be attributed to the chemical pressure effect.     

Effect of pressure and magnetic field on bilayer La1.25Sr1.75Mn2O7 single crystal

We report the temperature dependence of susceptibility for various pressures, magnetic fields and constant magnetic field of 5 T with various pressures on La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ single crystal to understand the effectiveness of pressure and magnetic field in altering the magnetic properties. We find that the Curie temperature, T_c, increases under pressure (dT_c/dP=10.9 K/GPa) and it indicates the enhancement of ferromagnetic phase under pressure up to 2 GPa. The magnetic field dependence of T_c is about 26 K for 3 T. The combined effect of pressure and constant magnetic field (5 T) shows dT_c/dP=11.3 K/GPa and the peak structure is suppressed and broadened. The application of magnetic field of 5 T realizes 3D spin ordered state below T_c at atmospheric pressure. Both peak structure in χ_c and 3D spin ordered state are suppressed, and changes to 2D-like spin ordered state by increase of pressure. These results reveal that the pressure and the magnetic field are more competitive in altering the magnetic properties of bilayer manganite La_1.25Sr_1.75Mn₂O₇ single crystal.     

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.     

Study of ferromagnetism–superconductivity interactions in Co/Nb multilayers

We investigate Co/Nb multilayers to explore the spontaneous π-phase shift between the superconducting (SC) layers, which is attributed for causing the non-monotonic change of the SC transition temperature (T_c) with the ferromagnetic (FM) layer thickness (t_FM) in several FM/SC multilayered systems. The issue of interfacial roughness is also explored by growing Co/Nb multilayers at various sputtering pressures. Transport measurements show a non-monotonic dependence of T_c on t_FM, and this dependence is insensitive to the structural variation present in the samples, as measured by X-ray scattering.     

Superconducting transition parameters in aluminum-lithium alloys (0-10 at.% Li)

The superconducting transition temperatures T_c of face-centered cubic Al_1−x-Li_x alloys (x=0-0.10) exhibit a minimum near x=0.03 (3 at.% Li). The McMillan strong-coupling T_c equation yields a similar trend of the electron-phonon coupling constant λ. Meanwhile, the density of states at the Fermi level N(0) decreases monotonically with increasing x. It appears that T_c drops initially due to a reduced N(0), which is then overtaken by alloying-enhanced factors of phonon or electron-phonon interaction.     

Superconductivity in the Th-doped Y NiC2 compounds

We have observed superconductivity in the two-phase samples with nominal compositions (Y _1−xTh_x)NiC₂ (x=0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5). As determined by magnetic, electrical and heat capacity measurements, the superconductivity phase transition temperature T_c increases with Th concentration to . Powder X-ray diffraction data provide the evidence for bulk superconductivity in an orthorhombic CeNiC₂-type majority fraction of the sample volume while the minor impurity phase ThC₂ has no effect on the superconductivity. The variation of room temperature lattice parameters, a, b, c and v of these substitutional intermetallic samples indicates the systematic substitution of Y ³⁺ ions by Th⁴⁺ ions irrespective of the existence of the 2nd impurity phase.     

Superconductivity in porous MgB2

Porous magnesium diboride samples have been prepared by the heat treatment of a pressed mixture of Mg and MgB₂ powders. It was found that linked superconducting structure is formed down to the minimum normalized density γ_c=d/d₀≅0.16 (percolation threshold), where d is the density of MgB₂ averaged over the sample, d₀=2.62 g/cm³ is the X-ray density. Lattice parameters and critical temperature of the porous sample decrease with increasing porosity (decreasing γ) and T_c2≅32 K is minimal at γ_c. The grain boundaries in the porous samples are transparent for the current and J_c∼3×10⁵ A/cm² in self field at T=20 K in the samples with γ∼0.24.     

Superconductivity of powder-in-tube Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 wires

Nb-sheathed Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ superconducting wires have been fabricated using the powder-in-tube (PIT) method for the first time and the superconducting properties of the wires have been investigated. The transition temperature (T_c) of the Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ wires is confirmed to be as high as 35.3 K. Most importantly, Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ wires exhibit a very weak J_c-field dependence behavior even the temperature is very close to T_c. The upper critical field H_c2(0) value can exceed 140 T, surpassing those of MgB₂ and all the low temperature superconductors. Such high H_c2 and superior J_c-field performance make the 122 phase SrKFeAs wire conductors a powerful competitor potentially useful in very high field applications.     

Observation of a transition from BCS to HTSC-like superconductivity in Ba1 − x KxBiO3 single crystals

The temperature dependences of the upper critical field B _c2(T) and surface impedance Z(T) = R(T) + iX(T) have been measured in Ba_{1 ? x} K_xBiO₃ single crystals with transition temperatures 6 ≤ T _c ≤ 32 K (0.6 > x > 0.4). A transition from the BCS to an unusual type of superconductivity has been revealed: B _c2(T) curves of the crystals with T _c > 20 K have positive curvature (as in some HTSCs), and those of the crystals with T _c < 15 K described by the usual Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) formula. The R(T) and X(T) dependences of the crystals with T _c ≈ 32 K and T _c ≈ 11 K in the temperature range T ? T _c are linear (as in HTSCs) and exponential (BCS), respectively. The experimental results are discussed using the extended saddle point model by Abrikosov.     

Polarization properties of Li2−x Na x Ge4O9 (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) crystals

The polarization switching in sinusoidal fields and the pyroelectric properties of Li_2?x Na _x Ge₄O₉ (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) crystals are measured in the temperature range T _c ?T ≤ 40 K. The behavior of the P?E hysteresis loops with variations in temperature is investigated for crystals with phase transition temperatures T _c < 300 K and T _c > 300 K. It is shown that, for crystals with phase transition temperatures T _c < 300 K, the temperature dependence of the hysteresis loop exhibits a behavior typical of crystals with second-order phase transitions. The crystals with phase transition temperatures T _c > 300 K are characterized by double hysteresis loops in the temperature range T _c ?T ₁ ≈ 30 K. The correlation between the polarization properties and possible structural transformations of the Li_2?x Na _x Ge₄O₉ crystals due to the change in the concentration ratio of Na and Li ions is discussed.     

Enhanced ferromagnetic transition temperature in nanocrystalline lanthanum calcium manganese oxide (La0.67Ca0.33MnO3)

We report a novel, low temperature (450-600 °C) route for the synthesis of highly crystalline and homogeneous nanoparticles of lanthanum calcium manganese oxide La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (LCMO). The nanocrystallites, with average particle size of 30 nm, possess a ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition temperature (T_c) of 300 K, which is about 50 K higher than that of a bulk single crystal. The transition temperature was found to be inversely proportional to the particle size. The Rietveld analysis of the powder X-ray diffraction data of the phase-pure nanopowders reveals that the particle size reduction leads to a significant contraction of the unit cell volume and a reduction of the unit cell anisotropy. We propose that these two lattice effects are responsible for the observed enhancement in T_c.     

Decoupling of the order-disorder and displacive contributions to the phase transition in NH4H(ClH2CCOO)2

The effects of hydrostatic pressure and substitution of Rb⁺for the ammonium cations on the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in NH₄H(ClH₂CCOO)₂ have been studied by electric permittivity measurements. The transition temperature (T_c) decreases with increasing pressure up to 800 MPa and the pressure coefficient dT_c/dp=−1.4×10⁻² [K/MPa] has been experimentally determined. The substitution of Rb⁺ for the ammonium cations has been shown to considerably lower the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_c. In mixed crystals, additional electric permittivity anomaly has been clearly evidenced. The results are discussed assuming a model, which combines polarizability effects, related to the heavy ion units, with the pseudo-spin tunnelling.     

Superconductivity of Bi2 (Sr0.9Ca0.1)2 CuO y single crystals

Bi₂ (Sr_0.9Ca_0.1)₂ CuO _y single crystals were grown by the self-flux method. The temperature dependence of resistance and ac susceptibility measurements showed that the as-grown crystal is semiconductive between 4.2 K and 300 K. However, after annealing in air for more than 20 days the crystal became superconducting with a T _c of 66 K obtained from the R-T curve. The ac susceptibility data also showed a strong superconducting transition at 71 K. X-ray diffraction indicated that the structure of the as-grown and the annealed crystal both are orthorhombic. The T _c of 71 K of the Bi₂ (Sr_0.9Ca_0.1)₂ CuO _y crystal may be due to the increase of oxygen content in the crystal after the long-time annealing in air. It is suggested that the superconductivity of the Ca-doped 2201 phase of the Bi-based system, which up to now was found to have a T _c=7–22 K, is similar to the 2201 phase of the Tl-based system.     

Role of surface Cooper pair interactions on critical temperature of ultra thin film superconductors

The superconductivity mechanism of Pb thin film on a Si substrate in the weak interaction regime is investigated. A discrete Fermi surface is constructed depend on the film thickness and electron density and crystallographic orientation. We consider two types of Cooper pair interactions, Cooper pair interaction at thin film surfaces and Cooper pair in the thin film volume. We have chosen the surface Cooper pair interaction, of ultra thin films superconductor proportional to the inverse of thin film thickness, while the volume Cooper pair interaction has been considered as a constant. By these assumptions, we have found oscillation feature of critical temperature Tc and energy gap Δ in terms of thin film thickness similar to the experimental results for Pb/Si(111) thin film superconductor. However, by increasing number of Pb layers, the thin film Tc goes to bulk Tc. In contrast to the previous claimed constant value for the Δb(T=0)/kBTc in bulk, we have found oscillation of this parameter in terms of thin film thickness similar to the Tc oscillation.     

Enhanced suppression of superconductivity in amorphous films with nano-scale patterning

We have measured the thickness dependence of the superconducting critical temperature, T_c(d_Bi)$T_c(d_{\text{Bi}})$, in amorphous Bi/Sb films patterned with a regular array of holes as well as nanoscale thickness variations. We find that the mean field T_c$T_c$ is suppressed relative to simultaneously produced unstructured films of the same thickness. Surprisingly, however, the functional form for T_c(d_Bi)$T_c(d_{\text{Bi}})$, remains unaffected. The role of the thickness variations in suppressing T_c$T_c$ is compared to the role of the holes, through parameterization of the surface, as measured through AFM/SEM and a proximity effect calculation. These results suggest that these two nanoscale modifications suppress T_c$T_c$ about equally and are consistent with T_c$T_c$ being determined on a microscopic length scale.     

Electrical properties of high Curie temperature (1−x)Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 single crystals grown by the solution Bridgman technique

0.65Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-0.35PbTiO₃ (PINT65/35) (starting composition) single crystals were grown successfully through the solution Bridgman technique using PbO flux and PMNT67/33 seed crystals. Because of the composition variation, the final composition of achievable crystals is in a range of 0.32-0.34 with the corresponding T_c range of 265-269 °C. The (001) plates of as-grown PINT66/34 single crystals show high Curie temperature (T_c=269 °C) and rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition temperature (T_rt=134 °C). Besides, good electrical properties with high dielectric constant (ε>3000), low dielectric loss (tan δ∼1.2%), high piezoelectric constant (d₃₃∼2000 pC/N) and large electromechanical coupling factor (k_t≈59%) at room temperature have been obtained on the (001) plates. The sound velocity, acoustic impedance and other piezoelectric parameters were also measured on the (001) plates in this study, which provide us more detailed information about PINT66/34 single crystals.     

Enhanced superconductivity in Sr2CuO4−v

A critical review of previous investigations of the superconductivity with enhanced T_c ∼ 95 K found in Sr₂CuO_4−v shows that new physics occurs in a highly overdoped region of the cuprate phase diagram. Moreover, evidence is adduced from the literature that 30% of the oxygen sites in the CuO₂ layers are vacant; a conclusion which is at odds with the universally made assumption that superconductivity originates in stoichiometric CuO₂ layers. While further research is needed in order to identify the pairing mechanism(s) responsible for the enhanced T_c, we suggest possible candidates.     

Reversible magnetization and irreversibility line of tri-layer superconductor Ba2Ca2Cu3O6(O,F)2 with Tc∼108 K

We report magnetization measurements of grain-aligned Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₆(O,F)₂ with T_c?108 K. The interlayer distance of the material is the shortest among known tri-layer superconductors. Unexpectedly, the magnetization data show that the coupling strength between CuO₂ layers is rather weak. A direct reflection of the weak coupling is highly suppressed irreversibility line, i.e. a broad reversible region in H-T plane. The decoupling field obtained from the irreversibility line is less than 0.1 T, which is comparable with that of quasi two-dimensional superconductor Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ. Comparison of data with the Hao-Clem model gives characteristic parameters [ξ_ab(0) and λ_ab(0)] and the critical fields [H_c(0) and H_c2^c(0)]. A large value of penetration depth, λ_ab(0)=240 nm reflects a small carrier concentration in CuO₂ planes, and explains the reason of the weak interlayer coupling.     

The effect of Fe and Ru substitution on the superconductivity in MgCNi3

We report the effects of partial substitutions of the VIIIa elements: Fe (3d) and Ru (4d) in the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi₃. In both the MgCNi_3−xRu_x and MgCNi_3−xFe_x systems, the superconducting critical temperature (T_C) decreases monotonically as x is increased. T_C decreases more slowly in the case of Ru, suggesting that the 3d electrons in Fe are magnetically pair breaking. This is supported by the normal state magnetic susceptibility measurements (χ), which shows that χ increases with Fe and decreases with Ru doping. No ferromagnetism is observed in either system.     

Superconductivity in the ‘triple-fluorite-layer’ copper oxides (Cu,M)-1232 (M=Mo, W, Re, Pb)

Here two new high-T_c superconductors are reported of the (Cu,M)-1232 structure containing a fluorite-structured (Ce,Y)-O₂-(Ce,Y)-O₂-(Ce,Y) triple-layer block between two adjacent superconductive CuO₂ planes. The new superconductors were found through substitution studies at the Mo site in the recently synthesized superconductor, (Cu_0.75Mo_0.25)Sr₂(Ce_0.67Y_0.33)₃Cu₂O_11+δ or (Cu_0.75Mo_0.25)-1232 [Y. Morita, T. Nagai, Y. Matsui, H. Yamauchi, M. Karppinen, Phys. Rev. B 70 (2004) 174515. [10a]]. Essentially single-phase samples of the (Cu_0.75M_0.25)-1232 phase with M=W, Re and Pb were obtained by an ambient-pressure solid-state synthesis method. Through a subsequent high-pressure oxygenation (HPO) treatment carried out at 5 GPa and 500 °C in the presence of Ag₂O₂ as an oxygen source the M=W and Re samples were successfully ‘superconductorized’. Introduction of Pb was found to markedly enhance the speed of the formation of the 1232 phase, but the (Cu,Pb)-1232 samples did not exhibit superconductivity. Among the superconductive (Cu,M)-1232 samples, the highest T_c value of 56 K was achieved for (Cu_0.75Re_0.25)-1232. It is likely that the higher the average valence of cations in the (Cu,M)O_1+δ charge-reservoir is, the more can the phase accommodate excess oxygen upon HPO treatment and the higher is the resulting T_c value.