Growth of Bi2Sr2Ca1−xPrxCu2Oy single crystals from Bi-rich melts

Abstract Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1− x Pr x Cu 2 O y single crystals were successfully grown by a self-flux method from Bi-rich melts for the first time. For starting composition x s =0–0.6, all the crystals possess the pure Bi2212 phase with the actual Pr content varying from x =0 to 0.78 correspondingly. However, the grown crystals are of the Bi2201 and the Bi2222 phase for starting composition x s =0.7–0.9 and x s =1.0, respectively, with evident difference between the nominal and actual composition of crystals. The superconducting transition temperature of Bi2212 crystals increases slightly at first and then drops gradually upon Pr doping and the complete suppression of superconductivity occurs when the actual Pr content reaches 0.60.