It is known that the amount of Nd ions substituting for a Ba site in the Nd
1+xBa2-xCu3Oy solid solution (Nd123ss) tends to decrease with either decrea
sing oxygen partial pressure (P-O2) or increasing temperature, however, the
precise solubility limit of Nd123ss has not been obtained. In the present
study, we carefully studied the solubility limit of Nd123ss under low P-O2
and for the first time could show the presence of x < 0, i.e. the substitut
ion of Pa for the Nd site. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All
rights reserved.