High-temperature superconductivity in the BaPb1-xBixO3 systems

Phases of the type BaPb_1-xBi_xO₃ have been prepared for the first time. These phases all have perovskite related structures, and superconductivity was observed over the range $\text{x ≌ 0.05-0.3}$. The highest critical temperature is 13 K which is exceptionally high for an oxide and is much higher than that previously observed for any superconductor not containing a transition element. Semiconducting behavior is observed from x = 1 to about 0.35.