Synthesis and characterization of Bi₂Sr₂PrCu₂O_8+δ single crystals

Solid state crystal growing method has been used for oxides to synthesis stoichiometric Bi₂Sr₂PrCu₂O_8+δ compounds. Stable layered structure phase is found to crystallize in fully oxygenated atmosphere at the temperature of 1000°C Powder X-ray diffraction analysis indicates a pseudo-tetragonal phase with lattice parameters a ≈ b = 5.43 Å and c = 30.3 Å. Four-probe transport measurements shows superconductivity with the onset temperature at ~15 K. Near the temperature, dc magnetic susceptibility examination exhibits diamagnetic signal in zero-field-cool. The volume fraction of Meissner signal in field cool is as large as ~20% for the lowest experimental temperature of 2 K indicating bulk nature. Under the application of an external magnetic field, the anisotropy of the compound is estimated to be -10³ from resistivity measurements.