Growth and superconductivity of La-doped Bi-2201 whiskers

Superconducting whiskers were grown by the self-flux method from Bi2Sr2Ca0.9La0.1Cu2O8+δ + 0.2Bi2O3 melt. The whiskers of composition Bi1.82Sr1.38Ca0.2La0.38Cu1.0O6+δ were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy element analysis, X-ray diffraction, and ac susceptibility measurement. The onset superconducting transition temperature is 24 K, which is consistent with previous reports. Possible reasons for the whisker growth and the formation of the Bi-2201 phase are discussed.