Crystal growth of MgB2 from Mg–Cu–B melt flux and superconducting properties

A new method for the preparation of single crystals of the superconducting intermetallic MgB2 compound from a Mg–Cu–B melt flux is presented. The high vapour pressure of Mg at elevated temperature is a serious challenge of the preparation process. The approximate thermodynamic calculations of the ternary Mg–Cu–B phase diagram show a beneficial effect of Cu, which extends the range of formation of MgB2 to lower temperatures. Within the as-solidified Mg–Cu–B melt flux the MgB2 compound forms plate-like single crystals up to a size of 0.2×0.2×0.05 mm3 or alternatively rims peritectically grown around MgB4 particles. AC-susceptibility measurements were conducted with specimens selected from different parts of the as-solidified flux containing MgB2 particles. Peritectically formed MgB2-particles display the highest transition temperature of Tc=39.2 K and a relatively narrow transition width of ΔTc=1.3 K. Other sections of the sample exhibit various superconducting transitions from Tc=39 K to 7.2 K. This variation of Tc is attributed to a finite homogeneity range of the MgB2 compound whereas significant Cu solid solubility in MgB2 can be excluded.