Preparation of Bi-2201 thin films Bi(2)Ln(x)Ca(2-x)Cu(1)O(z) (0.4 <= x <= 0.8, Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd) by laser ablation

We have prepared Bi-2201 thin films of Bi(2)Ln(x)Ca(2-x)Cu(1)O(z) systems ( Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd) by the laser ablation method. In the Bi2LaC a2-xCu1Oz System, the Bi-2201 films have been obtained in a wide compositio n range of 0.4 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.8, and the f ilms with x < 0.7 have been of the metastable phase, which has never been r eported to be synthesized by the solid state reaction method. The film with x = 0.4 has shown the lowest resistivity in the Bi2LaxCa2-xCu1Oz system, a nd in the Bi(2)Ln(x)Ca(2-x)Cu(1)O(z) systems (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and G d), when x is fixed to 0.4, the film with Ln = Nd has shown the lowest resi stivity. From the results of resistivity and magnetic measurements, however , none of these films have been found to be superconductive. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.