Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
On the basis of semi-empirical extended Hiickel molecular orbital calculations of copper-oxide clusters representing the new superconducting material YBa2Cu3Ox, a phase diagram is proposed which suggests that the 94 K high temperature superconducting phase of YBa2Cu3Ox is characterized by an oxygen stoichiometry near 7.0. The phase diagram predicts that a plateau should exist for Tc in the region x = 0.0 – 0.25 and that in this region two phases are present which are characterized by compositions having oxygen stoichiometries 6.5–6.75 and ca. 7.0.