BiSr2CaCu2O7 (Bi1212) is prepared and characterized by various methods
in particular by Raman spectroscopy. The material is found to be very
anisotrope. The identity between the polarized Raman spectra along XX
and YY axes is in agreement with a tetragonal structure P4/mmm. The c
ollapse of the stretching (Bi)O(Cu) from two Raman bands in Bi2212 int
o only one band in Bi1212 reflects a vertically aligned bond ordering,
similar to that observed when converting from YBa2Cu4O8 into YBa2Cu3O
7 and from Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 into TlBa2CaCu2O7.