GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SUPERCONDUCTING BI2SR2CA(1-X)CEXCU2O8-CRYSTALS(DELTA SINGLE)

Superconducting single crystals of Bi2Sr2Ca(1-x)CexCu2O8+delta were gr own by spontaneous nucleation technique from stoichiometric melt compo sition. The effects of Ce on the growth as well as on the superconduct ing properties were studied. The morphology and the composition of the grown crystals were studied using the Scanning Electron Microscope (S EM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Technique (ICP) respectively. The p owder X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the lattice parameters a and b increase, while c decreases with the progressive substitution of Ce. The susceptibility measurement delineates that the T-c decreases gradually, with increase in the Ce concentration.