# Annealing effects on the normal-state resistive properties of underdoped cuprates

## TL;DR

This study examines how room-temperature annealing affects the electrical resistance and superconducting properties of underdoped cuprate single crystals, revealing changes in oxygen content and related physical parameters.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into how annealing modifies oxygen deficiency and electrical properties in underdoped cuprates, which was not previously well understood.

## Key findings

- Annealing decreases oxygen deficiency and residual resistance.
- It increases the critical temperature $T_c$.
- It decreases the Debye temperature.

## Abstract

The influence of room-temperature annealing on the parameters of the basal-plane electrical resistance of underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ and HoBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ single crystals in the normal and superconducting states is investigated. The form of the derivatives $d\rho(T)/dT$ makes it possible to determine the onset temperature of the fluctuation conductivity and indicates a nonuniform distribution of the labile oxygen. Annealing has been revealed to lead to a monotonic decrease in the oxygen deficiency, that primarily manifests itself as a decrease of the residual resistance, an increase of $T_c$, and a decrease of the Debye temperature.