Thermogravimetric analysis of Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-delta)

Samples of Nd(sub 2-x) Ca(sub x)CuO(sub 4-(delta)) were prepared by the usual solid state reaction technique and characterized by x ray diffraction, resistivity, and magnetization measurements. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to observe the sample weight change as a function of temperature in a variety of gas atmospheres. The oxygen content was determined by a TGA technique incorporating the results of x ray diffraction. We confirmed that for x = 0.15, a small value of (delta) (of order 0.05) is vital to superconductivity.