The possibility of introducing additional states in the conduction band of YBa2Cu3Oy by Ca doping

Measurements of the temperature dependences of the resistivity and Seebeck coefficient S, as well as of the Hall coefficient R _H at T=300 K are reported for two series of ceramic Y_1−x Ca_xBa₂Cu₃O_y samples with oxygen contents in the initial sample close to stoichiometric and then lowered by annealing. It has been found that an increase in calcium content in the first series results in a drop of the critical temperature T _c , a weak variation of S (300 K), and an increase of R _H (300 K), whereas in the second series T _c increases, S (300 K) decreases, and R _H (300 K) remains practically constant. The S (T) relations acquire additional features with increasing doping level, which are not typical of the YBa₂Cu₃O_y system for other types of substitution. An analysis of the data obtained made in terms of the phenomenological band model permits a conclusion that calcium is capable of introducing additional states in the conduction band. Based on this assumption, we have succeeded in providing a qualitative explanation for the unusual features in the behavior of the transport coefficients and critical temperature in Y_1−x Ca_xBa₂Cu₃O_y. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2145–2152 (December 1998)