Single crystal growth of superconducting La2-xSrxCuO4 by the TSFZ method

High quality large single crystals of La2-xSrxCuO4 were grown by the travelling solvent floating zone method (TSFZ method). Crystals of up to about 6 mm diameter and 40 mm length were obtained. The composition of the grown crystals was uniform and was determined to be La1.86Sr0.14Cu0.97O3.89. The single crystals were superconductors with Tc = 37.5 K and ΔTc = 1.1 K, and had a significant anisotropy of the electrical resistivities at the non-superconducting state.