Discovery of a new nontoxic cuprate superconducting system Ga-Ba-Ca-Cu-O

Abstract

Superconductivity is observed in a new nontoxic cuprate system Ga-Ba-Ca-Cu-O, with T_c = 82 K for GaBa₂Ca₅Cu₆O_{14 + δ}( 5 (Ga-1256) and T_c = 116 K probably for GaBa₂Ca₃Cu₄O_10+δ(Ga-1234) or GaBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ (Ga-1223), respectively. All compounds are fabricated by solid state reaction method under high pressure and high temperature. Samples are characterized by resistivity, magnetization and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The temperature dependence of magnetization measured in both zero-field-cooled and field-cooled processes on one sample (S1) shows two superconducting transitions at about 82 K and 113 K. The estimated shielding fraction for the phase with T_c of 82 K is about 67%, while the fraction for another phase with T_c of 113 K is quite small. The XRD Rietveld refinement for S1 indicates two main phases existing in the sample, Ga-1256 with fraction of about 58% and non-superconducting Ca_0.85CuO₂ with fraction of about 42% respectively. Thus, we can conclude the superconducting phase with transition temperature of 82 K is due to Ga-1256. The resistivity measurement also confirms the superconductivity for S1, and the resistivity reaches zero at about 82 K. The temperature dependence of magnetization for another sample (S2) shows much higher superconducting shielding fraction for the phase with T_c of 116 K, which may be a promising prospective for the synthesis of Ga-1234 or Ga-1223 phase.