Mercury superconductors crystal growth under high pressure and high temperature influenced by crucible composition

We report investigations on chemical reactions among flux containing Hg, Ba, Ca, Cu, O and crucibles made of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and BaZrO/sub 3/. Our research work on oxide superconductors containing mercury allowed us to compose the first approach of p-T-x conditions of synthesis. We obtain quite large (up to 2/spl times/2 mm/sup 2/), flat single crystals. We present the results of our investigation of the influence of p-T-x conditions on reactions between the batch and the various crucibles. XRD patterns and morphology study by SEM and EDX analysis are shown. We conclude that the BaZrO/sub 3/ crucible is the most neutral for the crystallization process.