By using the high-pressure high-temperature technique, we succeeded in
substituting in the mercury cuprate superconductors up to about 40% o
f mercury by gold. The samples were studied by X-ray and neutron powde
r diffraction, electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy. AC
suceptibility measurements were also performed. The experimental data
obtained for the Au substituted Hg-1223 compound indicate that the su
bstitution leads to overdoping of the CuO2 layers, with a progressive
decrease of cell parameters and T-c with increasing gold content, Taki
ng into account these results, we used gold substitution to increase T
-c of a Hg-1245 sample up to 110 K. The corresponding unsubstituted sa
mples are normally obtained by the high-pressure high-temperature tech
nique in an underdoped state with a T-c around 100 K.