Barium rare-earth zirconates: Synthesis, characterisation and their possible application as substrates for YBa2Cu3O7 − δ superconductors

A new class of complex perovskite oxides Ba2 REZrO6 − x (RE = Pr, Nd, Sm and Gd) have been synthesised and sintered as single phase materials with high sintered density and stability by solid state reaction method. The structure of Ba2REZrO6 − x was studied by X-ray diffraction technique and all of them were found to be isostructural and have a cubic perovskite structure. No chemical reaction was observed between Ba2REZrO6 − x and YBa2Cu3O7 − δ even after annealing a 1:1 volume mixture at 950 °C for 20 h. The dielectric constant and loss factor of these materials are in a range suitable for their use as substrates for YBa2Cu3O7 − δ superconductors. Ba2REZrO6 − x melts congruently and could be grown as single crystals from melt.