  The superconducting and structural properties of a series of Mg1-xAlxB2
samples have been investigated. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the
existence of a structural transition associated with the significant change in
inter-boron layer distance as reported previously by Slusky et al.
Moreover,transmission-electron-microscopy observations revealed the existence
of a superstructure with doubled lattice constant along the c-axis direction.
We propose that this superstructure is essentially related to the structural
transition. The modifications of superconducting transition temperature Tc, the
normal state resistivity, and the upper critical field Bc2 by Al doping are
discussed in terms of Al-substitution induced changes in the electronic
structure at the Fermi energy.
