The superconductor related phases Ba3R3Cu6O14+x(or Ba2−zR1+zCu3O7+x, with z=0.5), where R = Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu, have been prepared and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, ac magnetic susceptibility measurement, resistivity measurement and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Attempts to make corresponding compounds with R = Gd, Dy, Y, Er, and Lu were not successful; they do not appear to form for rare-earth elements, R, with an ionic size smaller than Eu. The oxygen content of the successful materials was estimated by TGA. The Ba3R3Cu6Cu14+xcompounds which were sintered at 950°C and annealed in oxygen at 550°C were found to be nonsuperconducting above 10K. Previously reported results for the R=La compound have indicated that it was superconducting with a transition temperature of 15K The oxidation-reduction behavior of the Ba3R3Cu6O14+xmaterials is similar to that of the superconductor phases Ba2RCu3O6+x.
These present isostructural compounds are tetragonal with a space group of P4/mmm. The cell parameters range from a = 3.8612(4), c = 11.5624(14) Å, V = 172.38(4) Å3in the Eu compound to a = 3.8893(3), c = 11.6370(11) Å, and V = 176.03(3) Å3in the Pr compound. The standard X-ray diffraction patterns of these materials are given.