The aptitude of barium and bismuth to form layered cuprates: Bi sub 2 Ba sub 2 minus x La sub x CuO sub 6+. delta. , a 2201-type structure. [Title compound is not a superconductor]

A bismuth barium cuprate, Bi{sub 2}Ba{sub 2{minus}x}La{sub x}CuO{sub 6 + {delta}} with a layered structure has been synthesized for the first time for 0.50 {le} x {le} 1. This oxide is isotypic with 2201 Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CuO{sub 6} superconductor, i.e., corresponds to the intergrowth of single BaCuO{sub 3} perovskite layers with triple ((BiO){sub 2}BaO) {proportional to} layers. The modulated character of the structure is documented and the possibility of inducing superconductivity in this structural type is discussed.