Application of High Pressure-DTA for High Pressure-liquid Phase Epitaxy of Doped Mercury and Thallium HTS Formations

The fabrication method of superconducting thin films of compositions HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ (Hg-1223) and Tl₂Ba₂CuO_y (2201) on single-crystalline SrTiO₃ and LaAlO₃ substrates is reported. The highest obtained T _c was 134 K and J _c over 10⁶ A cm^–2 at 77 K. High pressure DTA(HP-DTA) was applied to grow mercury- and thallium-based high-temperature superconducting crystals and thin films, to identify melting points of particular phases within these oxide systems and determine suitable processing conditions. The DTA system operates at the: maximum temperature of 1200°C, volume up to 5 cm³, working pressure up to 1.5 GPa and at a working atmosphere — inert gas with up to 25% oxygen. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of calcination conditions on the superconducting properties of Y−Ba−Cu−O powders

Calcination conditions of the precursor powders, i.e. temperature, type of atmosphere and duration, were determined with a view to obtain superconducting powders with the most advantageous physico-chemical properties. Investigated were powders in the Y?Ba?Cu?O system prepared by the sol-gel method. Thermogravimetric examinations of the powders have revealed that the decomposition kinetics of BaCO₃ determines the formation rate of the superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (‘123’) phase. It follows from the decomposition kinetics of BaCO₃ that the process is the most intensive in argon, whereas in static air and oxygen it is the slowest. The phase composition analysis (XRD) and low-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the calcinated powders, confirm the above mentioned changes in the decomposition kinetics. The reaction of barium carbonate can be completed if the calcination process is conducted at the temperature of 850°C for 25 h, yielding easily sinterable powders for obtaining single-phase superconducting bulk samples with advantageous functional parameters.     

Oxidation kinetics study of the iron-based steel for solid oxide fuel cell application

Kinetics of oxidation of Fe-Cr steel containing 25 wt.-percent Cr was studied as a function of temperature (1023–1173 K) for up to 480 h in flowing air, which corresponds to SOFC cathode environment operating conditions. The oxidation process was found to be a parabolic, suggesting that the diffusion of ionic defects in the scale is the slowest, rate determining step and it occurs predominantly by short-circuit diffusion paths. Comparison of the determined activation energy of oxidation of the studied steel with literature data indicates that at 1098–1173 K the chromia scale grows by the outward solid-state diffusion of chromium interstitials, whereas at 1023–1098 K — through a significant contribution of counter-current oxygen/chromium diffusion along Cr₂O₃ grain boundaries. The oxide scales were composed mainly of Cr₂O₃ with a continuous thin Mn_1.5Cr_1.5O₄ spinel layer on top of the chromia scale. The oxidation test results on Fe-25Cr steel demonstrate the applicability of the commercial type DIN 50049 stainless steel as interconnect for SOFC. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The formation of superconducting oxide phases in the (Bi,Pb)−Sr−Ca−Cu−O System

The crystallization mechanism of superconducting phases in the (Bi,Pb)?Sr?Ca?Cu?O system was determined on the basis of the results of DTA, DTG and TG studies, supplemented by X-ray examination of ceramic powders obtained by the sol-gel method. It has been demonstrated that the factor determining the formation of superconducting phases: Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_x (low-T _c ) and Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x (high-T _c ) is the kinetics of reaction of calcium and strontium carbonates with molten CuBi₂O₄. As a result of the reaction of the bimetallic compound CuBi₂O₄ with SrCO₃ in the liquid phase the compound Bi₂Sr₂CuO₆ is formed. This compound, reacting with calcium and copper oxides, yields superconducting phases: the low-T _c and the high-T _c phase. It has been also observed that an increase in the volume fraction of high-T _c phase in powder subjected to thermal treatment takes place probably due to the repeated disproportionation of low-T _c phase and its repeated synthesis from Bi₂Sr₂CuO₆, CuO and CaO.     

Mn–Co spinel protective–conductive coating on AL453 ferritic stainless steel for IT-SOFC interconnect applications

This paper presents research on the synthesis and properties of the Mn_1.5Co_1.5O₄ (MC) spinel powder, as well as its application for the preparation of a MC thick film on the AL453 steel to be used for metallic interconnect material in IT-SOFCs. In order to prepare the MC micropowder with excellent homogeneity of the chemical and phase compositions, EDTA gel processes were utilized. In order to improve the contact electrical resistance between an AL453 steel interconnect and the La_0.8Sr_0.2FeO₃ (LSF) cathode and protect the cathode from Cr poisoning, the surface of the AL453 steel was coated with a protective manganese cobaltite spinel matrix using screen printing in combination with an appropriate heat treatment. The oxidation of the AL453/MC composite layer carried out in the air–H₂O gas mixture at 1,073 K for 55 h showed that the spinel coating may serve as an effective barrier against outward Cr diffusion from the AL453 steel and, therefore, significantly inhibit the formation of volatile Cr vapors from the chromia scale. The contact ASR study of the interconnect–cathode interface in the AL453/MC/LSCM/LSF/LSCM/MC/AL453 system carried out in the range of 723?1,073 K in air showed a very large drop in ASR compared to the resistance of the AL453/LSCM/LSF/LSCM/AL453 system without the spinel coating.     

Physicochemical properties of Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel coating deposited on the Crofer 22 H ferritic steel and exposed to high-temperature oxidation under thermal cycling conditions

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The Crofer 22 H ferritic steel substrate was coated with an Mn1.45Co1.45Cu0.1O4 spinel by means of electrophoresis. After high-temperature oxidation...     

Ba2Ca2Cu3Ox Precursor Effects on Synthesis of (Hg,Pb)Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ Superconductor

The influence of Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x precursor on the synthesis and properties of (Hg,Pb)Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ has been examined. Fine homogeneous Hg-free precursor powder of Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x of desirable phase composition was prepared by sol-gel method using EDTA acid as a complexing agent. A reproducible superconducting sample of Hg_0.8Pb_0.2Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ with fine-grained, dense microstructure, composed predominantly of (Hg,Pb)-1223 phase and with advantageous magnetic properties, was synthesized by high pressure crystallization in mercury environment of well-calcined Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x precursor. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

TG Measurements of the Oxidation Kinetics of Fe-Cr Alloy with Regard to its Application as a Separator in SOFC

The high-temperature oxidation behavior of a ferritic alloy (SUS 430) in a SOFC environment, corresponding to the anode (H₂/H₂O gas mixture) and cathode (air) operating conditions, was determined with regard to application of the alloy as a metallic separator material in SOFC. The oxidation kinetics of Fe-16Cr alloy (SUS 430), was studied by thermogravimetry in H₂/H₂O gas mixtures with p_H/p_HO=94/6 and 97/3 and in air, in the temperature range 1023-1223 K, for 3.6 up to 1080 ks. It was found that the protective oxide scale, composed mainly of Cr₂O₃ with uniform thickness and excellent adhesion to the metal substrate, grows in accordance with the parabolic rate law. The dependence of the parabolic rate constant, k_p, of the scale on temperature obeys the Arrhenius equation: k_p=6.8×10^-4 exp (-202.3 kJ mol^-1R^-1T^-1) for H₂/H₂O gas mixtures with p_H/p_HO=94/6. The determined k_p was independent of the oxygen partial pressure in the range from 5.2×10^-22 to 0.21 atm at 1073 K, which means that the rates of growth of the scale on Fe-16Cr alloy in the above-mentioned atmospheres are comparable. The oxidation test results on Fe-16Cr alloy in H₂/H₂O gas mixtures and air demonstrate the applicability of SUS 430 alloys as a separator for SOFC. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.