A novel technique for identification of minor superconducting phases

• Published in: Physica. C, Superconductivity Vol. 363; no. 1; pp. 13 - 18
• Main Authors: Xue, Y.Y, Brazdeikis, A, Du, Z.L, Chu, C.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.10.2001
• Subjects: 74.72.Jt; 61.12.Ld
• ISSN: 0921-4534; 1873-2143
• DOI: 10.1016/S0921-4534(01)00616-5

A novel technique that involves isolating and characterizing particles of pulverized samples has been developed to identify minor superconducting phases. Particles as small as 10 μm can be analyzed both magnetically and structurally. Data on several multi-phase Ba–Ca–Cu–O–(C) samples demonstrate that the technique can even distinguish coexisting superconducting phases based on the difference of the transition temperature T c. Using the technique, (Ba 0.95C 0.05) 2CuO 4− δ was identified as superconducting with a T c up to 60 K and lattice parameters a≈ b≈3.85 Å and c≈15.7 Å.