In conclusion, we have prepared Hg-1223 with 60-70% phase purity by a simplified route. The material prepared in this way shows a sharp onset of diamagnetism at a T, of 135 K. In addition, HREM has shown this sample to be of good quality with a lack of observable defects, possibly explaining the sharpness of the superconducting transition. The preparation was carried out in a single-step route from mono-oxides, allowing us the flexibility provided by airstable starting materials. With the difficulty in preparing good quality precursors reported by many, the preparation of Hg-1223 in a single-step reaction is significant in itself, and we have shown here that once this approach is adopted, the synthesis itself becomes relatively simple.
E-xperimen talMono-oxides (all > 99% purity) were ground in appropriate molar quantities. Powder mixing was generally carried out in an argon-filled glovebox to minimize moisture, CO, absorption etc. (however, in our experience powder preparation in air can also yield high-quality samples). The resulting mixtures were pressed into pellets (under a pressure of 3 tonnes) which wrere wrapped in silver foil and air-sealed with a bench-torch in quartz tubes (od = 16 mm, id = 13 mm). The sealed tubes were contained in steel bombs, placed in a furnace, and heated at rates between 100 and 700 "C/h to temperatures between 650 and 800 'C. Temperatures were maintained for 5-10h, after which samples were left to cool at the natural rate of the furnace. In order to gain maximum T,s a post-anneal of the pellets was generally carried out in flowing 0, at 300 'C for 15 h.Characterization was performed by powder X-ray diffraction on a Siemens D5000 diffractometer (Cu-K,, radiation). Magnetic measurements were performed on a Cryogenics S100 SQUID and Lake Shore AC susceptibility rig. EDS was carried out on a JEOL 2010cx electron microscope. High-resolution electron microscopic (HREM) images were obtained using a JEOL 200cx electron microscope.