Characterization of the (Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4O single crystals grown under high pressure

Abstract

By using a high pressure and high temperature (3.7 GPa, 1120 °C) synthesis technique, we have grown (Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4O single crystals. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, resistivity, and magnetization measurements are carried out and all show that the samples have good quality. The single crystal has onset and zero-resistance transition temperatures of about 111 and 109.6 K, indicating a very narrow transition width, which is consistent with a rather sharp magnetization transition. Magnetization hysteresis loops (MHLs) are also measured, showing a pronounced second peak effect in the intermediate temperature region. The magnetic critical current density calculated from the MHLs at 77 K and 1.5 T is about 6.4 104 A cm-2. By using a criterion of 1 normal state resistivity, we have determined the irreversibility line which exhibits an irreversibility field of about 8 T at 77 K. Compared with other layered systems, it is easy to find that the irreversibility line is rather high and could be further improved with the optimized transition temperature of about 118 K as previously discovered in polycrystalline samples.