UC Irvine

We have measured electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), resistivity, and dc susceptibility from 2 to 300 K for the oxide high Tc superconductors (R)Ba2Cu3Oy (R=Y,Pr,Nd,Eu,Gd,Ho,Er,Tm, or Yb). Selected systems were doped with 3‐d ions (Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Co, or Zn) or 4‐f ions (Gd or Er) which presumably substitute for the Cu or R site, respectively. In the systems studied we have observed an EPR line at low temperatures (T<40 K), which exhibits an increase in intensity and decrease in field for resonance as the temperature is lowered. The ESR linewidth is also temperature dependent and exhibits a minimum at about 15 K. An additional EPR line that can be associated with a Gd3+, Mn2+ or Er3+ ion was observed for those samples where these ions were present as dilute impurities. In some of the samples another EPR signal is observed with properties that depend on sample preparation conditions. The behavior and origin of all lines will be discussed. The variation of Tc with concentration of the added impurities over the range (1%–15%) will also be presented, and compared with previous studies in other superconducting systems. © 1988, American Institute of Physics. All rights reserved.