Materials Aspects of the High-temperature Superconductors in the System Bi2O3–SrO–CaO–CuO

Abstract

Ten years after the discovery of high-Tc superconductivity in the system Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O, the superconducting compounds have been identified, and their structures, crystal chemistry, phase equilibria, and properties have been extensively investigated. In this review, the results of studies of crystal chemistry and phase equilibria are presented to give materials scientists a comprehensive insight into the phase equilibria and crystal chemistry of these challenging materials.