  Polycrystalline sample of the new layered superconductor Bi4O4S3 is
successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction method by using Bi, S and
Bi2O3 powders with one step reaction. The superconducting transition
temperature (Tconset=4.5 K), the zero resistance transition temperature
(Tc0=4.07 K) and the diamagnetic transition temperature (4.02 K at H=10 Oe)
were confirmed by electrical transport and magnetic measurements. Also, our
results indicate a typical type II-superconductor behavior. In addition, a
large thermoelectric effect was observed with a dimensionless thermoelectric
figure of merit (ZT) of about 0.03 at 300K, indicating Bi4O4S3 can be a
potential thermoelectric material.
