Abstract
Considerable excitement has been generated by the report of superconductivity above 90 K in a multi-phase Y–Ba–Cu oxide1. The superconducting phase was subsequently identified as YBa2Cu3O7−δ2,3. The complete replacement of Y by the trivalent rare-earths La–Lu, with the exception of Ce, Pr and Tb, yields a superconducting phase with a critical temperature (Tc) almost identical to that reported for the yttrium compound4–7. This is somewhat surprising as most of these ions carry significant magnetic moments, the presence of which rapidly decreases Tc in ordinary superconductors. The three exceptions noted, Ce, Pr and Tb, are the rare-earth ions which have a stable tetravalent state. Here we present the results of a study of the structure and transport properties of the series of compounds Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O7−δ (x = 0−1.0), in which we observe a monotonic decrease in Tc and eventually a metal–nsulator transition with increasing Pr concentration. To date, this is the only rare-earth ion which has been found substantially to alter Tc upon partial substitution for Y.
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Soderholm, L., Zhang, K., Hinks, D. et al. Incorporation of Pr in YBa2Cu3O7−δ: electronic effects on superconductivity. Nature 328, 604–605 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/328604a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/328604a0
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