New superconducting PbSr2CuO5+delta prepared by a novel low-temperature synthetic route using molecular beam epitaxy

We report the synthesis of a new superconducting cuprate PbSr2CuO5 + delta (T-c similar to 40 K) by a novel low-temperature synthetic route using mole cular beam epitaxy. The new superconductor is the first member of the Pb-12 (n - 1)n homologous series. Low-temperature synthesis by MBE and an appropr iate choice of lattice-matched substrates are essential to our discovery of PbSr2CuO5 + delta superconductor. This work demonstrates that MBE opens up a novel synthetic route for new cuprates. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.