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Tuning Oxide Properties by Oxygen Vacancy Control During Growth and Annealing
Published on: June 9, 2023
Oxygen isotope effect in high-temperature oxide superconductors.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|December 11, 1987
Summary
Oxygen isotope substitution lowers the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) in four oxide superconductors. This finding confirms the role of phonons in the electron-pairing mechanism for these materials.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) is a critical parameter in superconductors.
- Understanding the electron-pairing mechanism is key to developing high-T(c) materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of oxygen isotope substitution on T(c) in various oxide superconductors.
- To elucidate the role of phonons in the electron-pairing mechanism.
Main Methods:
- Oxygen isotope substitution (oxygen-18 for oxygen-16) was performed on four different oxide superconductor samples.
- The superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) was measured before and after isotope substitution.
- Observed T(c) shifts were compared across the studied materials.
Main Results:
- A decrease in T(c) was observed for all four materials (BaBi(0.25)Pb(0.75)O(3), La(1.85)Ca(0.15)CuO(4), La(1.85)Sr(0.15)CuO(4), and YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7)) upon oxygen-18 substitution.
- The magnitude of the T(c) shift varied among the different superconducting compounds.
Conclusions:
- The observed isotope effect provides strong evidence for the involvement of phonons in the electron-pairing mechanism of these oxide superconductors.
- Phonon-mediated electron pairing is a significant factor contributing to superconductivity in these materials.
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