International Journal of Superconductivity

Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 469280, 6 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/469280

Research Article

Synthesis and Characterization of RuSr₂R1.6Ce0.4Cu₂O₁₀ (R = Gd, Eu, and Sm) Magnetosuperconductors

Rajneesh Mohan,¹ Nupinderjeet Kaur,² and N. K. Gaur²

¹Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea

²Department of Physics, Barkatullah University, Bhopaladhya, Madhya Pradesh 462026, India

Received 4 June 2013; Revised 4 July 2013; Accepted 8 July 2013

Academic Editor: Zigang Deng

Copyright © 2013 Rajneesh Mohan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The discovery of the coexistence of superconductivity and weak ferromagnetism in ruthenocuprates like (Ru, R-1222; R = Eu, Gd) and RuSr₂GdCu₂O₈ (Ru-1212) has created a tremendous interest both experimentally as well as theoretically. Here, we have prepared polycrystalline samples of RuSr₂R1.4Ce0.6Cu₂O₁₀ (R = Gd, Eu, and Sm) by the standard solid state reaction method. These samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, dc resistivity, and squid measurements. All the prepared samples were single phase without any trace of impurity. From the low-temperature resistivity measurement, the samples of (R = Eu and Gd) were found to be superconducting, while the samples of RuSr₂Sm1.6Ce0.4Cu₂O₁₀ show semiconducting behavior. The magnetization (M) versus field (H) hysteresis at 5 K clearly shows the ferromagnetic behavior of the samples. The zero field cooled magnetization () and field cooled magnetization () diverge at 100 K.

1. Introduction

The discovery of new superconducting and magnetic materials with anomalous properties has revived a significant activity in the field ranging from basic science to developments for technological applications. Usually, it was believed that for conventional superconductors described by the BCS theory [1] superconductivity (SC) and ferromagnetism (FM) are mutually antagonistic phenomena. However, the coexistence of SC and weak FM has been discovered in 1997 in (R = Eu, Gd, Ru-1222) [2] and subsequently in RuSr₂GdCu₂O₈ (Ru-1212) [3, 4]. Ru-1222 is called superconducting weak ferromagnet because the SC arises in the FM ordered state [2].

Intensive research has been carried out to understand these magnetosuperconductors, particularly the Ru-1212 [3–7]. Ru-1212 displays a Curie transition at  K and bulk superconductivity below 0–46 K depending on the sample preparations [3, 7]. Superconductivity appears to be associated with the CuO₂ planes [6] with some types of long-range magnetic order that involves the RuO₂ planes [4]. In comparison to Ru-1212, another magnetosuperconductor Ru-1222 was given less attention [8]. Ru-1222 has a complicated magnetic behavior. It is found to be paramagnetic at room temperature, but as it is cooled down, it undergoes antiferromagnetic transition [2, 8, 9] followed by spin glass behaviour [10] and ferromagnetic transition [2, 8, 9]. Below the ferromagnetic transition, the superconductivity sets in and coexists with the ferromagnetism. The tetragonal Ru-1222 structure evolves from the RBa₂Cu₃O₇ (R-123) one by inserting a fluorite-type layer instead of single R layer in R-123. The Ru ions reside in the Cu(1) site, and only one distinct Cu site (corresponding to Cu(2) in R-123) exists. As compared to Ru-1212, Ru-1222 is very sensitive to oxygen content [10, 11]. This is the main source responsible for the nonuniform properties. There are great variety of results regarding the influence of the preparation on the O stoichiometry. The oxygen stoichiometary can be varied with suitable annealing. Some reports suggest that an increase of oxygen content results in the decrease of lattice parameter and increase of [11, 12]. The superconducting transition in this compound is reported in the range 30 K–50 K [13]. The superconducting transition width was found to be very broad. The properties (physical, electrical, and magnetic) are strongly “sample dependent.”

The study on the ruthenocuprates can throw a light on the nature of superconductivity. Clues to understand the reasons for the contradictory results on superconductivity in this compound can be obtained by having a closer look at the structure and microstructure of the sintered samples.

A variety of experiments can be performed to elucidate some more properties. The effect of annealing in oxidizing/reducing atmosphere and substitution of various cations can provide the clues for understanding the nature of superconductivity in these materials. Still, there is a tremendous scope to improve the materialistic properties of these materials through different types of processing techniques. We have made an attempt to study the effect of annealing on the superconducting properties of Ru, R-1222, R = Gd, Eu, and Sm.

2. Experimental

Polycrystalline samples of RuSr₂R1.4Ce0.6Cu₂O₁₀ (where R = Gd, Eu, and Sm) have been synthesized by solid-state reactions. Starting materials were high purity (99.99%) RuO₂, SrCO₃, Gd₂O₃ (or Eu₂O₃, Sm₂O₃), CeO₂, and CuO. These were thoroughly grinded, calcined at 960°C in the air, reacted as pellets at 1010°C in flowing argon, and then reacted at 1050 and 1060°C in flowing oxygen. Each reaction was carried out for 24 h and, intermediate grinding, and pelletized. Some of the a-sprepared samples were annealed in a quartz tube under a constant flow of high purity oxygen gas at temperature 1060°C for 48 h. All the samples in the present investigation were subjected to the structural characterization by X-ray powder diffraction technique (XRD) and low-temperature electrical transport measurement using the standard four-probe method using a closed-cycle helium cryostat. The grain morphology of the fractured surface of the samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

3. Results and Discussion

The XRD patterns of the RuSr₂Gd1.4Ce0.6Cu₂O₁₀ (Ru, Gd-1222), and RuSr₂Eu1.4Ce0.6Cu₂O₁₀ (Ru, Eu-1222), RuSr₂Sm1.4Ce0.6Cu₂O₁₀ (Ru, Sm-1222) are shown in Figure 1. It can be seen from this figure that the samples prepared by us are single phase. The XRD pattern is indexed using CellRef program [14]. The lattice parameters were calculated using the CellRef program in tetragonal space group I4/mmm. The calculated lattice parameters of Ru, Gd-1222 sample are  Å and  Å. The obtained value of “” and “” coincides with the reported value of Felner et al. [2, 13] and Awana et al. [10]. The lattice parameters calculated using CellRef program of Ru, Eu-1222 sample are  Å and  Å. The lattice parameters calculated using CellRef program of Ru, Sm-1222 sample are  Å and  Å. The value of lattice parameters “” for Ru, Gd-1222, Ru, Eu-1222, and Ru, Sm-1222 samples is related to the ionic radii of substituents Gd, Eu and Sm [15]. The bigger substituent ion the larger lattice parameter.

Figure 1: XRD pattern of Ru, Gd-1222, Ru, Eu-1222, and Ru, Sm-1222.

The SEM images of fractured surface of Ru, Gd-1222, Ru, Eu-1222, and Ru, Sm-1222 samples are shown in Figure 2. These images clearly show the different grain structure of these compounds. Ru, Gd-1222 has needles type of grains of different sizes imbedded in each other. Ru, Eu-1222 has grains with smooth surface. Ru, Sm-1222 has sponge-type porous grain structures.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 2: SEM images of (a) Ru, Gd-1222, (b) Ru, Eu-1222, and (c) Ru, Sm-1222; scale is 20 μm.

The resistivity-temperature behavior (-) of the asprepared samples of Ru, Gd-1222, Ru, Eu-1222, and Ru, Sm-1222 with corresponding / is shown in Figures 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c), respectively.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 3: - plot along with / of as-prepared samples of (a) Ru, Gd-1222 (b) Ru, Eu-1222, and (c) Ru, Sm-1222.

The asprepared sample of Ru, Gd-1222 shows metallic normal state resistivity before superconducting transition with onset at 36 K and (zero resistivity temperature) at 23 K. The / curve shows the sharper superconducting transition with peak at 25 K in Figure 3(a). The as-prepared sample of Ru, Eu-1222 shows semiconducting normal state resistivity before superconducting transition with onset at 28 K in Figure 3(b). But the zero resistivity could not be observed in this sample down to 13 K. The onset superconducting transition in Ru, Eu-1222 is also revealed by the / curve. The resistivity behavior of Ru, Sm-1222 sample is semiconducting type, with no sign of superconductivity observed down to 13 K as depicted in Figure 3(a). From these results, it may be assumed that superconducting properties of Ru-1222 compound deteriorate with increasing lattice parameters due to the substitution of bigger rare-earth ions (i.e., Eu, Sm). The bigger ion in (Eu/Sm)1.6Ce0.4 plane increases the separation between two CuO₂ planes, which are responsible for superconductivity [6]. The Ru, Eu-1222 sample has low room temperature resistivity than Gd-1222. But the resistivity of Eu-1222 increases progressively with the decreasing temperature in contrast to Gd-1222 sample, in which the resistivity progressively decreases with decreasing temperature.

Since Ru, Sm-1222 sample does not show any superconducting properties, therefore for magnetic properties study, we concentrate only on Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 samples. The static magnetic response of Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 was studied by zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) dc magnetization ( and , resp.) measured as a function of temperature. Figure 4 shows and curves as a function of temperature for 100 Oe in the temperature range of 5 to 150 K. The sharp rise of both the and the curves at and 111 K, that is, the Curie temperature () Ru, Gd-1222, and Ru, Eu-1222 respectively, for a PM to FM transition. Here, we have denoted as the intercept of the straight line shown in Figure 4, the -axis. At temperatures close to , that is, at , the , and curves branch out, and the system enters into a glassy state [16]. The and versus (K) curves exhibit irreversible behavior for temperature below . for Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 are 93 K and 90 K, respectively. The Ru moments in Ru-1222 order antiferromagnetically at around 125–180 K, which later develops into a canted ferromagnetism due to an antisymmetric exchange coupling of the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya type between neighboring Ru moments, at lower temperatures 80–100 K [2]. Below , the Ru-Ru interactions begin to dominate, leading to reorientation of the Ru moments, which leads to a peak in the magnetization curves [12]. Superconductivity is seen at 5 K in terms of diamagnetic transition () in applied field of  Oe (Figure 4). It is known that, due to internal magnetic fields, these compounds are in a spontaneous vortex phase (SVP) even at zero external fields [13]. For , the compound remains in a mixed state. Though is achieved at relatively higher temperatures (22 K, see Figure 2), the diamagnetic response is seen at much lower temperatures.

Figure 4: Magnetization (M) versus temperature (T) behavior of Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 samples.

Magnetization (M) versus applied field (H) isotherms at 5 K for Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 sample is shown in Figure 5. M-H curves of Ru, Gd-1222 show FM-like hysteresis with nonsaturating magnetization at high fields (up to 2500 Oe), suggesting the formation of short-range ordered clusters with FM coupling between the spins of the clusters. In case of Ru, Eu-1222 sample, the magnetization starts saturating above 1000 Oe field in both directions. In this figure, the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism is clearly evident. It is clearly visible from the inset given in Figure 5. The hysteresis loop exhibits a Meissner-like linear increase in diamagnetic signal up to ~106 and 87 Oe, typical for a superconducting state [16]. The oxygen content in Ru-1222-type ruthenocuprate can be varied with annealing. Since the electrical and other properties of cuprates are sensitive to the oxygen content, therefore it becomes pertinent to study the electrical properties of prepared sample subjected to oxygen annealing.

Figure 5: M-H behavior of Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 samples at 5 K showing magnified image at low magnetic field shows clear diamagnetic state.

The resistivity behavior of Ru, Gd-1222 and Ru, Eu-1222 with and without annealing is presented in Figure 6. In the case of Ru, Gd-1222, the resistivity decreases substantially as a result of annealing in oxygen. This shows that the asprepared samples are oxygen deficient or hole deficient (current carriers in cuprate superconductor). With annealing, the oxygen content/number of holes increases in the samples. The onset superconducting transition temperature of annealed sample increases to 45 K, and zero resistivity becomes 26 K. But in the case of Ru, Eu-1222, there is a small decrease in normal state resistivity. The onset superconducting transition temperature of annealed sample increases to 30 K. could not be observed down to 13 K. This shows that though the number of holes was increased due to annealing, this could not overcome the increased separation between the CuO₂ planes. From the previous observation, one can say that Ru-1222-type superconductors are oxygen deficient and their oxygen stoichiometry can be varied with the help of annealing, which is a typical nature of cuprate superconductors.

(a)

(b)

Figure 6: Comparison of the temperature dependence of resistivity of asprepared and annealed samples of (a) Ru, Gd-1222 and (b) Eu, Gd-1222 respectively.

4. Conclusions

The RuSr₂R1.4Ce0.6Cu₂O₁₀ (where R = Gd, Eu, and Sm) samples have been synthesized through solid-state reaction. XRD analysis revealed that the prepared samples are monophasic in nature. The variation in lattice parameter “” is proportional to the ionic radii of Gd, Eu, and Sm. The SEM images clearly show the different grain structure of these compounds. Ru, Gd-1222 has needles type of grains of different sizes imbedded in each other. Ru, Eu-1222 has grains with smooth surface. Ru, Sm-1222 has sponge-type porous grain structures. The resistivity-temperature behaviour shows the asprepared sample of Ru, Gd-1222 which shows metallic normal state resistivity before superconducting transition with onset at 36 K and (zero resistivity temperature) at 25 K. The as-prepared sample of Ru, Eu-1222 show semiconducting normal state resistivity before superconducting transition with onset at 28 K. But the zero resistivity could not be observed in this sample down to 13 K, while Ru, Sm-1222 is purely semiconducting without any hint of superconductivity. The magnetization-(M-) temperature (T) measurement reveals magnetic transitions () at 105 K. The magnetization (M) versus field (H) hysteresis at 5 K showed the ferromagnetic behavior of the samples. On comparing the RT behavior of annealed and sintered sample, we can conclude that Ru-1222-type superconductors are oxygen deficient and their oxygen stoichiometry can be varied with the help of annealing, which is a typical nature of cuprate superconductors.

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