The preparation and processing of bulk superconducting ceramic Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4−y

Abstract
We report the development of a reaction technique which yields ceramic Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4−y with macroscopically uniform concentrations of Ce and O. Under appropriate argon annealing conditions, samples exhibiting bulk superconductivity as gauged by resistive transition width and diamagnetic shielding are obtained. In addition. metallic behavior, indicated by positive dp/dT above Tc, is obtained for the normal state.