Preparation and characterization of the magnetic superconductor EuSr2RuCu2O8−δ (RuEu-1212) by partial melting

In this study, fine single crystals of the magnetic superconductor EuSr2RuCu2O8−δ (RuEu-1212) were successfully prepared using the partial melting technique. The obtained single crystals had a cubic shape, which coincides with the results of previous studies of RuGd-1212 single crystals. The single crystals had a typical length of 20-30 µm and the diffraction pattern observed from a sample prepared by partial melting was consistent with patterns of previously reported polycrystalline RuEu-1212 samples. A sample subjected to prolonged sintering, which consisted of a large number of combined micro single crystals prepared by partial melting, exhibited a superconducting transition with Tc-onset of 30.9 K and Tc-zero of 10.5 K.