• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2009

Polycrystalline samples of $(R_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ (R = Lu and Y) were synthesized by a solid-state reaction route, and the phase stabilities were examined by heating at temperatures between $800^{\circ}C$ and $900^{\circ}C$ in various atmospheres. A comparative analyses of the x-ray diffraction data of the $(Lu_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ and $(Y_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ compounds showed that the 123 phase of both compounds is stable under heating in air and $O_2$ of 1 atm. However, contrary to the $(Y_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ compound, the $(Lu_{0.8}Ca_{0.2})Ba_2Cu_3O_z$ compound was found to become unstable when heated in the low oxygen partial pressure below about 8 % $O_2\;in\;N_2$, Considering the instability of parent $LuBa_2Cu_3O_z$ compound, this result suggests that the phase stability of Lu-based 123 compounds is sensitive to both the composition and the oxygen partial pressure.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-8
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• 2014

The influence of quenching temperature, heating atmosphere and annealing time on superconducting characteristics has been studied for $LuBa_2Cu_3O_{7-z}$ compound which has been recently synthesized in a nearly phase-pure form. Resistivity measurements for the as-prepared sample heated at $300^{\circ}C$ in oxygen and subsequently quenched into liquid nitrogen revealed that there is no significant change in $T_c$. On the other hand, $T_c$ of the sample slightly increased when the sample was heated at $300^{\circ}C$ either in air or in $N_2$ atmosphere. It was also found that $T_c$ of the sample decreased when the annealing temperature in $N_2$ atmosphere increased above $400^{\circ}C$. The experimental results indicated that the as-prepared sample is under overdoped state. The enhanced superconducting transition observed in the samples after heating at $300^{\circ}C$ in air or $N_2$ atmosphere was discussed in conjunction with a slight removal of oxygen and ordering of oxygen atoms in the as-prepared sample.