Abstract
The superconducting properties of the spinel Lithium Titanate were studied. The specimens were prepared by a reactive sintering method using pure hydrogen as reducing agent. The specimens were analysed by the X-ray powder diffraction method. The crystal structure was found to have a face-centered cubic lattice and could be represented by the Space Group Fd3m. The unit cell parameter was found to vary with composition. For nominal stoichiometry, the unit cell size was found to be ~ 8.405 Angstroms. The surface texture was studied using a scanning electron microscope. Some needle-like structures were observed. A cryostat was designed to study the magnetic behaviour at low temperatures. A vibrating Coil Magnetometer was designed and used with the magnetic field produced by a superconducting solenoid. Resistivity measurements were made using a four probe technique in the temperature range 4.2 K to 295 K. Above the superconducting transition temperature the specimens showed semiconducting behaviour. The superconducting onset temperature for different specimens varied from 9 K to 10.5 K with the Tc ~ 4 K. Normal state resistivities ranged from 0.006 to 0.07 omega-m at room temperature and 0.02 to 0.17 omega-m at a temperature just above the transition temperature.