The behavior of thermopower in the YBa2−x LaxCu3Oy system. Correlation between the band parameters in normal state and critical temperature

The thermopower in the YBa_2−x La_xCu₃O_y system (x=0–0.5) has been studied. An analysis made in terms of the narrow-band model revealed trends in the variation of the main band parameters with increasing lanthanum concentration. The dependence of the conduction band width on lanthanum concentration was found to pass through a weak minimum at x=0.05–0.1, which correlates in position with the maximum in the concentration dependences of the critical temperature and degree of sample orthorhombicity. The results obtained and their comparison with Fe, Co→Cu substitution data permit a conclusion that the main factor affecting the properties of the YBa₂Cu₃O_y system under nonisovalent substitution of various cations is the increasing disorder in the chain-oxygen subsystem caused by increasing impurity content. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 17–22 (January 1998)