Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Significance of plane versus chain sites in high-temperature oxide superconductors

Nature volume 332, pages 238–240 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

One of the outstanding questions concerning the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 is the relative importance of the CuO2 planes (Cu(2) site) and the CuO chains (Cu(1) site). Many theories1,2 have stressed the importance of the 3d holes at the Cu sites, which provide an antiferromagnetic correlated background necessary for the coupling of the superconducting electrons. We have substituted Zn(3d104s2) and Ga(3d104s24p1) in the Cu(2) and Cu(1) sites, respectively, while maintaining the oxygen stoichiometry at 7. In the valence states of 2 + and 3 + respectively, the 3d bands of both elements are completely full, without the complication of a magnetic moment. Here we discuss the structural changes that accompany Zn and Ga substitution, as deduced from X-ray and neutron diffraction, and correlate these changes with the superconducting properties. We show that the integrity of the planes is much more important than that of the chains in sustaining high-Tc superconductivity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson, P. W. Science 235, 1196–1198 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Emery, V. J. Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 2794–2797 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Xiao, G., Streitz, F. H., Gavrin, A., Du, Y. W. & Chien, C. L. Phys. Rev. B35, 8728–8784 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Maeno, Y. et al. Nature 328, 512–514 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Takayama-Muromachi, E., Uchida, Y. & Kato, K. Jap. J. appl. Phys. (in the press).

  6. Tarascon, J. M. et al. Phys. Rev. B (submitted).

  7. Jee, C. et al. Proc. 1987 MRS Meet. High Tc Superconductivity (in the press).

  8. Oseroff, S. B. et al. Solid St. Commun. 64, 241–245 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kistenmacher, T. J. et al. Phys. Rev. B36, 8877–8880 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Miceli, P. F. et al. Phys. Rev. B (submitted).

  11. Siegrist, T. et al. Phys. Rev. B36, 8365–8368 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kirby, P. B. et al. Phys. Rev. B36, 8315–8319 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Beech, F. et al. Phys. Rev. B35, 8778–8781 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. J. Rhyne and J. A. Gotaas: Institute for Materials Science and Engineering, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA

    Gang Xiao, M. Z. Cieplak, D. Musser, A. Gavrin, F. H. Streitz, C. L. Chien, J. J. Rhyne & J. A. Gotaas

Authors
  1. Gang Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Z. Cieplak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Musser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Gavrin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. H. Streitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. C. L. Chien
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. J. Rhyne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. A. Gotaas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xiao, G., Cieplak, M., Musser, D. et al. Significance of plane versus chain sites in high-temperature oxide superconductors. Nature 332, 238–240 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/332238a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/332238a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing