The structural instability in Ti rich compositions of Nb-Ti alloy system, which leads to various anomalies in the normal and superconducting state properties, has been extensively studied in bulk samples in the past. In this paper we report the formation of thin films of several compositions in the Ti rich region of this alloy system by RF magnetron sputtering and investigation of their electrical properties. Compositional analysis of two representative films was carried out by the RBS technique and the compositions agreed to within 2% of the targeted values. The anomalous variations in the electrical properties characteristic of the bulk, which can be ascribed to the structural instability related to the formation of athermal ω-phase, are also observed in thin films.

We have studied for the first time the effect of Ag addition (0–15 wt%) to the superconducting system, Nd$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}$CuO$_{4}$, on its crystal structure and local structural features, using synchrotron X-ray diffraction(SXRD) and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. SXRD and subsequent Rietveld refinement studies on powders of Nd$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}$CuO$_4$ $+$ Ag system indicate a small but significant change in lattice parameter upon Ag addition, showing evidence for possible incorporation of Ag to the extent of $\sim$1 wt%. Raman spectroscopic studies indicate that the parent structure of Nd$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}CuO$_{4}$ remains unaffected with no major local structural changes on doping with silver. However, all Raman modes show minor phonon hardening upon Ag addition, which is consistent with the unit cell volume reduction as is observed in XRD. A systematic bleaching out of the apical oxygen defect mode was also observed with increased Ag addition. Polarized Raman measurements helped to identify the asymmetric nature of the B1g Raman mode. X-ray diffraction studies on pellets of Nd$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}CuO$_4$ $+$ Ag system further indicate a randomization of preferred orientation upon Ag addition. The superconductivity of the Nd$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}$CuO$_4$ $+$ Ag system has been well characterized for all the compositions studied.