SYNTHESIS AND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY OF HG2CL2-INTERCALATED BI2SR2CAN-1CUNOZ (N=1-3) COMPOUNDS

We have found that 'Hg2Cl2' can be intercalated into Bi2Sr2Can-1CunOz (n=1-3) superconductors. Intercalated phases were examined by X-ray po wder diffraction, electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and magnetometry. The expansion along the c-axis upon interca lation was estimated to be about 3.5 Angstrom for n=1-3 specimens. The presence of both Hg and Cl atoms was confirmed by EDX analysis. The i ntercalated phase with tetragonal symmetry for n=1 has a superstructur e of three times the perovskite unit along the a-axis, and has kept th e staggered stacking of the basic building blocks of the host sample. The superconductivity of the n=2 phase is also described.