Structure and magnetic properties of (Ru0.9Nb0.1)Sr2(Gd1.34−xNdxCe0.66)Cu2Oz system

Abstract

Polycrystalline samples of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and magnetization measurements. Resistivity measurements revealed that the onset transition temperature [Formula: see text] decreased slightly from [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. Magnetization measurements showed that the partial substitution of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] leads to a significant decrease in the magnetic ordering temperature. A suppression of the weak ferromagnetic component of the field-cooled (FC) magnetization with [Formula: see text]-doping content was also observed for the samples with [Formula: see text]. The changes in the superconducting transition temperature, the magnetic ordering temperature and the weak ferromagnetic component of the FC magnetization are discussed in conjunction with the change in hole concentration and the local structural changes in the Ru sublattice induced by [Formula: see text] doping, based on the Rietveld refinements of the XRD data.