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A Neutron Powder Diffraction Study of the Ferromagnetic Superconductor RuSr2(Gd1.3Ce0.7)Cu2O10-σ

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2011

Christopher S. Knee
Affiliation:
Dept. of Chemistry University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K.
Mark T. Weller
Affiliation:
Dept. of Chemistry University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K.
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Abstract

The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of the ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr2(160Gd1.3Ce0.7)Cu2O10-σ, which orders magnetically at TC ∼ 180 K and exhibits a Tc ∼ 30 K, has been investigated by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction. In this system superconductivity is believed to occur in the CuO2 layers while the magnetic order is associated with the Ru moments. The tetragonal structure evolves from that of YBa2Cu3O7-σ by inserting a fluorite-type Gd1.3Ce0.7O2 layer instead of the Y ion and replacing the chain copper site with RuO6 octahedra. Rietveld analysis reveals that the basal oxygens of the RuO6 octahedra are displaced within the xy-plane to accommodate physically reasonable Ru-O in-plane bonds. These displacements are consistent with rotations of the octahedra by ∼ 15° around the c-axis. Data were collected at 40 K, 70 K, 100 K, 130 K, 150 K, 170 K 190 K and 230 K but no large structural response associated with the ferromagnetic transition is observed. A small level of oxygen deficiency within the (Gd/Ce)2O2−x, fluorite layer (x = 0.1) is detected leading to a refined stoichiometry of RuSr2(Gd1.3Ce0.7)Cu2O9.9.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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