Growth of PrFeAsO single crystals and its characterization

Ishikado, Motoyuki; Shamoto, Shinichi  ; Kito, Hijiri*; Iyo, Akira*; Eisaki, Hiroshi*; Ito, Toshimitsu*; Tomioka, Yasuhide*

Single crystals of oxygen deficient oxypnictide superconductor PrFeAsO have been grown by using belt-type anvil high pressure synthesis apparatus. Superconducting transition temperature () of the obtained single crystal is 45 K, and typical size is about 800 1000 30 . In-plane electrical resistivity shows almost proportional to temperature as well as the copper oxide high temperature superconductors, suggesting the existence of effects of strong inelastic scattering like copper oxide high temperature superconductor. In addition, we obtained non-superconducting parent single crystal by annealing the as-grown single crystal under ambient pressure. Resistivity of parent single crystal is characterized by the kink near 150 K corresponding to the structural transition, and the structure near 12 K, which is thought to be originating from the magnetic order of Pr ion.