Chemical and materials science aspects of the studies of polycrystalline bismuth-based high-temperature superconductors

The chemical and materials science aspects of the studies of bismuth-based materials exhibiting high-temperature superconductivity are considered. The knowledge on their crystal chemical features and chemical composition is generalised. Data on the phase equilibria and regions of thermal stability of bismuth-based superconducting phases are discussed. The effect of the crystal structure, chemical and phase composition on the properties of bismuth-based superconductors is considered.