XRD EPR studies of ceramics Pr0.5Re0.5Ba2Cu3O7−δ in the orthorhombic and tetragonal phase

EPR, XRD, and magnetic studies are presented for Pr_0.5Re_0.5Ba₂Cu₃O_7?δ compounds (Re= La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in the orthorhombic and tetragonal (large oxygen deficiency) phase. For the samples with Re=Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu in the orthorhombic phase, the transition to the superconducting state has been observed in the temperatures rangeT _c between 18 and 40 K. For the samples with Nd and Yb in the tetragonal phase, EPR spectra coming from trivalent rare earth ions have been recorded. In the nonoxygenated sample Pr_0.5La_0.5Ba₂Cu₃O_7?δ the EPR spectrum arising from the non-Kramers trivalent praseodymium ion has been observed. A broad EPR line appearing in all our samples was attributed to superexchange interaction between copper ions over oxygen (O ₂ ^? ) bridges. Interestingly, for the Pr_0.5Re_0.5Ba_0.5Cu₃O_7?δ (Re = Er and Lu) compounds in the tetragonal phase at liquid-nitrogen temperature, a nonresonant microwave absorption in low magnetic fields has been detected.     

Structural variation and recovery of superconductivity by Ca substitution in Y0.4Pr0.6Bs2?xCaxCu3

Y_0.4Pr_0.6Ba_2–xCa_xCu₃O_7– polycrystalline samples were prepared and investigated. The Ca substitution led to a structural variation toward tetragonal symmetry, possibly due to the structural modification within the Cu(1)O layer. Superconductivity and metallic conduction were recovered whenx0.2, giving one more evidence for the existence of the ion-size effect at the Ba site.     

Chemical Control of Underdoped and Overdoped States in Y(Ba2 ? ySry)Cu3O6 + δ

The chemical control of underdoped and overdoped states in the Y(Ba_{2 – y} Sr _y )Cu₃O_{6 +} (0.1 and 0.9) compounds has been observed by high-resolution O K-edge X-ray-absorption near-edge-structure spectra. The chemical substitution of Sr for Ba in the fully-oxygenated Y(Ba_2–y Sr _y )Cu₃O_{6 +} (0.9) compounds gives rise to high hole concentrations within both the CuO₂ planes and the out-of-plane sites, leading to the overdoped state and the decrease in the superconducting transition temperature from 92 K for y=0 to 84 K for y=0.8. In contrast, an increase in the Sr content in the oxygen-deficient Y(Ba_{2 – y} Sr _y )Cu₃O_{6 +} (0.1) compounds did not indicate superconductivity. The oxygen-deficient compounds exhibit the underdoped state due to the low hole concentration.     

Dip-Coating of YBa2Cu3O7?δ and YBa2Cu3O7?δ-Ag Films on Polycrystalline Rare-Earth Barium Niobate Substrates

Dip-coating and partial melting technique have been used to fabricate high quality superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7– and YBa₂Cu₃O_7–-Ag thick films with T _c(0)=92 K on polycrystalline REBa₂NbO₆ (RE=Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu) substrates. The superconducting films showed excellent adhesion to the REBa₂NbO₆ substrate. The effect of Ag addition in YBa₂Cu₃O_7– on the current density, microstructure, and crystal orientation of the superconducting films developed on the above substrates have been discussed in detail. Dip-coating technique was found to be one of the easiest method for obtaining good quality superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7– thick films with thickness as low as 3 m even on polycrystalline substrates.     

Synthesis and neutron structural studies of (Pb/Cu)-1201 superconductor

A 1201-phase superconductor (Pb_0.5Cu_0.5)SrLaCuO_5± exhibiting a zero-resistance (R=0) state at 21 K has been synthesized. Neutron Rietveld refinement of the structure shows substantial oxygen disorder in the (Pb/Cu)-O(3) monolayer and excess occupancy of oxygen at the O(3) sites. The superconducting behavior of (Pb_0.5Cd_0.5)SrLaCuO_5± , prepared under identical conditions, yields a value ofT _c (R=0) equal to 24 K. The presence of extra oxygen appears to be responsible for trapping of holes within the rock-salt (Pb/Cu)-O(3).     

Extraordinary behaviour of the Y1?xPrxBa2Cu3O7?δ system

Investigations of Y_1–x M _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7– (M=Ce, Th)c-axis oriented thin film specimens show that the rate of depression ofT _c withx is larger for M=Th, than for M=Ce and Pr, and suggest that Ce, like Th, is tetravalent in this compound. Hall effect measurements on Y_1–x Pr _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7– single crystals reveal aT ² dependence of the cotangent of the Hall angle in the normal state and a negative Hall anomaly belowT _c in the superconducting state, in agreement with recent reports. Our research shows that the depth, , of the negative Hall signal scales withT/T _c and that the maximum value of decreases linearly withx and vanishes atx0.24. Magnetoresistance measurements on Y_1–x Pr _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7– single crystals indicate that the irreversibility lineH(T ^*) obeys a universal scaling relation characterized by anm=3/2 power law nearT _c, with a crossover to a more rapid temperature dependence of belowT/T _c 0.6, similar to that observed for polycrystalline specimens.