Infrared spectra study of Nd1.85−xRxCe0.15CuO4±δ (R = Gd and Sm) single crystals

The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and resistivity ρ are measured on Nd1.85−xRxCe0.15CuO4±δ (R = Gd and Sm) single crystals. From the XRD and FTIR spectra studies, the lattice constant c are found to decrease faster for Gd doping than that for Sm doping with increasing doping concentration x. Upon Gd doping, all the transmission peaks shift to high frequency but nearly unchanged with increasing Sm doping content. The volume of the unit cell observed through XRD and FTIR spectra decreases faster for Gd doping than that for Sm doping. Furthermore, for Gd doping the superconducting Tc decreases rapidly with increasing the doping concentration, while the Tc decreases slowly for Sm doping with increasing Sm content, which is found to be very well consistent with the evolution of the volume of the unit cell for two series.