Bulk superconductivity in single CuO layer Bi‐Sr‐Cu‐O ceramics

Despite early recognition that a relatively low‐temperature superconductor occurs in samples of approximate composition Bi2Sr2CuO6, studies of this material have been plagued by difficulties in the preparation of single phase material with a large superconducting fraction. We report the first preparation of ceramic samples in the Bi‐Sr‐Cu‐O system that show bulk superconductivity at 4–15 K. Structural, chemical, and electronic characterizations of superconducting and nonsuperconducting ceramics of composition Bi2.05Sr1.95CuO6 are described.