Growth of R-123 Phase Single Crystal Whiskers

Single-crystal whiskers of R1Ba2Cu3Ox (R-123, R= La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) phase have been successfully grown by the Te- and Ca-doping method. The whiskers were grown from precursor pellets at just below their partial melting (peritectic) temperatures. The nominal composition of the R-123 whiskers is R1+uBa2+vCawCu3Ox (u+v+w=0, w>0) with R and/or Ba sites being substituted by Ca. However, the amount of Te was less than the analytical limit. The critical temperatures of the R-123 whiskers were around 80 K, and among these whiskers those with larger R ionic radii such as Dy, Gd, Eu and Sm require post-annealing in an oxygen atmosphere.