Tb. Lindemer et Ed. Specht, NONSTOICHIOMETRY AND DECOMPOSITION OF PR1-ZCU3OY AND COMPARISON WITH Y123, LA123 AND ND123(ZBA2), Physica. C, Superconductivity, 268(3-4), 1996, pp. 271-278
The temperature (T) and O-2 partial pressure (p[O-2]) dependence of th
e oxygen content (y) in Pr1+zBa2-zCu3Oy (Pr123) were determined over t
he entire range of z and the data were represented by chemical thermod
ynamic models. Comparison of the results with those published previous
ly for Y123, La123 and Nd123, indicated that the La123 system was the
most atypical. Thermodynamic arguments suggest the presence of Pr+4 as
y approaches its maximum value. The T-z-p[O-2] dependence of high-tem
perature decomposition was also determined. Resistivity, de magnetizat
ion, and susceptibility measurements as low as 5 K revealed only param
agnetic and semiconducting behavior.