Study on Ca-doping effects and structural stability in Bi2Sr2-xCaxCuO6+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.2) compounds by Rietveld refinement and high-pressure Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

The lattice distortion induced by element doping is regarded as an effective approach to improve the superconductivity of Bi-based superconductors. In this study, a series of Bi2Sr2-xCaxCuO6+δ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2) ceramic samples are prepared by Pechini sol-gel method. The Ca-doping effects, structural stability and superconductivity of Bi-2201 phase are studied by electron microscopy, high-pressure Raman spectroscopy, the standard four-probe technique, X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinements. Results indicate that all samples are constituted by Bi-2201 main phase and Ca8.56Sr5.44Bi16O38 impurity. It can be determined that Ca atoms have entered Bi-2201 orthorhombic lattice and preferentially occupied the Sr-sites. When Ca atoms are introduced and high-pressure is exerted, the Bi-2201 lattice can present a relatively high structural stability. Meanwhile, the correlations between doping amount x, Cu–O–Cu bond angle (θ), carrier concentration of CuO2 planes and superconducting onset transition temperature (Tc,onset) are discussed particularly. It should be noted that the Bi-2201 lattice has the largest θ, the highest carrier concentration and the highest Tc,onset value of 84.98 K when x = 0.8.