Comparison of structural and superconducting properties of Bi2 Sr2 Ca Cu2 Ox whiskers

The results of a combined study of the structural and conductive properties of BSCCO (2212) whiskers are reported. After electrical measurements the samples are examined by transmission electron microscopy. The whiskers with transverse dimensions as small as 1 x 0.1 μm2 are single crystals of high quality. Some of the samples are free of dislocations, and contain only superstructure defects. It is found that the quasi-one-dimensional behavior of the paraconductivity is independent of the presence of dislocations. However, the excess conductivity is suppressed in the twinned whiskers. The existence of superstructure along the b-direction in BSCCO crystal could be a possible reason for the ab plane paraconductivity anisotropy, resulting in the one-dimensional conducting fluctuations