title: Evolution of the crystal and electronic structures of magnetic RuSr(2-x)La(x)GdCu2O8 superconductors upon La substitution.
abstract: We have investigated systematically the effects of La substitution on the chemical bonding nature and physical properties of magnetic RuSr(2-x)La(x)GdCu2O8 superconductors. X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopic microprobe analyses reveal that a fraction of Sr ions can be successfully replaced by La ions with the contraction of unit cell volume. According to electrical resistance and dc magnetization measurements, the La substitution gives rise to a significant reduction of superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) but to an increase of magnetic ordering temperature with depressed remanent magnetization. Ru K- and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic results clarify that average Ru and Cu oxidation states decrease upon the La substitution. On the basis of the spectroscopic evidences presented here, we are able to attribute the T(c) reduction upon the La substitution to the depletion of the hole density in CuO2 layers and the accompanying variation of magnetic coupling behavior to the change of Ru oxidation state.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nano Sciences and Department of Chemistry, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Gil
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Dae Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Seung Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee