An extensive new solid solution was synthesized by substitution of Pd+2
for Cu+2 in Bi2CuO4 compound [J.-C. Boivin et al., C.R. Hebd.
Seances Acad. Sci., Ser. C 276, 1105 (1973)]. Polycrystalline ceramic
powder with formula Bi2Cu$_{1-x}$
PdxO4 were prepared by
sol-gel method using (Bi, Cu, Pd) nitrates and pure citric acid. X-ray
patterns show a single phase with tetragonal symmetry and space group
P4/ncc (No. 130). In cases, the tetragonal cell c parameter and
therefore the metal-metal distance (dM-M = c/2) increases linearly with
increasing palladium concentration. Electrical conductivity measurements
show that the resistivity decreases regularly with pd2+ substitution.
It is possible to obtain materials with an ambient temperature conductivity
ranging from 10-6 to 10-3 S cm-1.