Important aspects of the synthesis and crystal growth of MgB2 under high pressures and temperatures in the Mg–B–N system were considered; including the optimization of P–T conditions for reproducible crystal growth, the role of liquid phases, the temperature dependence of crystal size and the effect of growing instabilities upon single-crystal morphology. Extensive experiments were carried out on single crystals with slightly different lattice constants and defect concentrations. This revealed the possible effects of Mg deficiency and lattice strain upon the superconducting properties (TC, JC, residual resistivity ratio, anisotropy, etc).

Crystal Growth and Characterization of MgB2 - the Relation between Structural and Superconducting Properties. S.Lee, T.Masui, H.Mori, Y.Eltsev, A.Yamamoto, S.Tajima: Superconductor Science and Technology, 2003, 16, 213-20