Growth and texturing studies of Bi2.1Y0.1Sr1.9CaCu2-xLixO8 crystals grown by floating-zone technique

Bulk-textured crystals of Bi(2.1)Yo(0.1)Sr(1.9)CaCu(2-x)Li(x)O(8) (x less than or equal to 0.3 mol%) of size 4 cm length and 1 cm diameter have been grown by modified strip-heater floating-zone technique. The grown crystals were annealed in air at different temperatures for 15 h followed by slow cooling at a rate of 5 degrees C/h. Surface studies of as-grown and annealed crystals were carried out by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The texturing nature of both the crystals were quantified using X-ray diffraction peak intensities. The composition of the samples was estimated by inductively coupled plasma analysis. From the susceptibility measurement the T-c was found to be increased by 6 K for 0.3 mol% of Li compared to undoped crystals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.