Superconducting critical temperature and electrical resistivity of the system Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O6.95 (0≤x≤1)

Measurements of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of polycrystalline specimens of Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O6.95±0.02 (0≤x≤1) are reported. The electrical resistivity exhibits metallic behavior for 0≤x≤0.50 and T>Tc, where Tc is the superconducting critical temperature, and 0.50 or approx. 100 K. The resistively determined values of Tc decrease monotonically with x and vanish for x ≅ 0.57. The Tc versus x curve does not conform to the universal relation based on the theory of Abrikosov and Gor'kov. However, for 0< or approx.x< or approx.0.3, the Tc versus x curve can be described by an empirical relation which incorporates the filling (or localization) of mobile holes in the CuO2 planes and superconducting electron pair breaking. Methods of sample preparation are discussed. (orig.)