Growth of Bi2Sr2Cu1Ox films by laser ablation

The formation and the properties of thin BiSrCuO films grown on MgO single crystal substrates by the pulsed laser ablation of a Bi₂Sr₂Cu₁O₆ target have been studied. The precise influence of the oxygen pressure and substrate temperature on the atomic composition, nature and structure of the grown phases, crystalline quality and superconductivity of the films has been analyzed. In the 600–750°C temperature range and 0.05–0.5 mbar oxygen pressure range, highly textured films of the 2201 phase (Bi₂Sr₂Cu₁O₆ phase) were formed despite large composition deviations (Bi enrichment and Sr depletion) with respect to the ideal composition. A high crystalline quality was evidenced for films grown at low and intermediate pressure and high temperature. χ_min values in the films deduced from channeling experiments were similar to the case of single crystal material. Despite this high crystalline quality, incomplete or very low T_c superconducting transitions were observed in the resistivity measurements.     

Crystallization kinetics of Bi1.7V0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox glass-ceramic

Crystallization kinetics of Bi_1.7V_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x glass-ceramic was investigated using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. Three characteristic phenomena were observed in the studied temperature range. The activation energies for glass transition temperature and crystallization phenomena were determined by different theoretical models. Applying the modified Johnson–Mehl–Avrami (JMA) equation reasonably suggests that crystallization process of the Bi_1.7V_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x glass-ceramic is carried out by a bulk growth in three dimensions.     

Electrical properties of pulsed laser-deposited SrxBiyTa2O9 thin films on Bi/Sr ratios

The dependence of the electrical properties of Sr_xBi_yTa₂O₉ thin films on the (Bi/Sr ratio 1.6, 2.3, 2.8, 3.4) has been investigated. The Sr_xBi_yTa₂O₉ ferroelectric thin films were synthesized on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates using the pulsed laser deposition method. Saturation polarization (P_st) and coercive field (2E_c) depend on the Bi/Sr ratio. P_st increases while E_c decreases with an increase in Bi/Sr ratio. Atomic Force Microscopy images show that the grain size grows with increasing Bi/Sr ratio. It is observed that the impedance behavior in Sr_xBi_yTa₂O₉ thin film, conforms to the Constant Phase Element (CPE) model. It is believed that the diffuse charges at the grain boundary build up a surface polarization because the impedance behavior close to pure capacitor with grain size increased.     

Effects of growth rate and buffer-layer on Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy thin film fabrication

The effect of the growth rate on the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_y (Bi2212) thin film quality on MgO substrate is investigated at several growth rates from 0.175 to 3 nm/min. The maximal step height on the film surface is improved from about 100 to 6 nm by the reduction of growth rate to 0.5 nm/min and simultaneously the superconducting critical temperature attaining to a zero resistance T_c(R=0), is also improved from 50 to 63 K. The surface morphologies of the upmost Bi-superconducting thin films with the intermediate layers on MgO substrate is also studied in contrast to that deposited directly on the MgO substrate.     

Effect of microstructure on thermoelectric properties of CSD-grown Bi2Sr2Co2Oy thin films

Three Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y thin films with different microstructures have been prepared by chemical solution deposition on LaAlO₃(001) through varying the annealing temperature. With the decrease in the annealing temperature, both the size and c-axis alignment degree of grains in the film decrease as well, leading to an increase in the film resistivity. In addition, the decrease in the annealing temperature also results in a slight increase in the seebeck coefficient due to the enhanced energy filtering effect of small-grain film. The nanostructured Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y film with the average grain size of about 100 nm shows a power factor comparable to that of the films with larger grains. Since the thermal conductivity of the nanostrcutured films can be depressed due to the enhanced phonon scattering by grain boundary, a higher figure of merit is expected in Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y thin film with grains in nanometer size.     

Transverse Seebeck effect in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8

2 Cu₃O₇ has been observed in “off-c-axis” grown Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ films. The films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition from Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ targets and grown with a tilt angle of 10 degrees between the film c-axis and the film surface on off-axis cut SrTiO₃ substrates. From the thermoelectric response upon laser irradiation the anisotropy of the thermopower is estimated. Received: 15 April 1996/ Accepted:19 November 1996     

Laser-induced voltage characteristics of Bi2Sr2Co2Oy thin films on LaAlO3 substrates

We report the laser-induced voltage (LIV) effects in c-axis oriented Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y thin films grown on (0 0 1) LaAlO₃ substrates with the title angle α of 0°, 3°, 5° and 10° by a simple chemical solution deposition method. A large open-circuit voltage with the sensitivity of 300 mV/mJ is observed for the film on 10° tilting LaAlO₃ under a 308 nm irradiation with the pulse duration of 25 ns. When the film surface is irradiated by a 355 nm pulsed laser of 25 ps duration, a fast response with the rise time of 700 ps and the full width at half maximum of 1.5 ns is achieved. In addition, the experimental results reveal that the amplitude of the voltage signal is approximately proportional to sin 2α and the signal polarity is reversed when the film is irradiated from the substrate side rather than the film side, which suggests the LIV effects in Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y thin films originate from the anisotropic Seebeck coefficient of this material.     

脉冲激光沉积温度及氧压对Bi2Sr2Co2Oy热电薄膜晶体结构与电输运性能的影响

利用脉冲激光沉积技术在c-Al₂O₃单晶基片上制备了Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y热电薄膜并研究了沉积温度和氧压对薄膜晶体结构及电输运性能的影响.在最佳沉积条件下制备的单相、c轴取向的Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y薄膜的室温电阻率ρ和塞贝克系数S分别为2.9mΩ/cm和110μupV/K,其功率因子S²/ρ好于在单晶样品上得到的值.此外,该薄膜在低温下表现出较强的负磁阻效应,在2K,9T时达到了40%.     

The effect of microstructure on the laser-induced transverse voltage in Pb-doped Bi2Sr2Co2O y thin films on tilted substrates

Pb-doped Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O _y thin films were prepared on tilted LaAlO₃(001) by using the chemical solution deposition technique under different annealing temperatures and its laser-induced transverse voltage effect was investigated by using a 308 nm pulsed radiation. The shape of the laser-induced voltages in these films depended strongly on the film microstructure. Films with a larger grain size and better crystalline quality had a voltage signal with greater amplitude and faster response time. The experimental results can be explained by a mechanism involving the transverse thermoelectric effect as well as the transport theory of thermoelectric materials.     

Thermodynamic parameters of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ thin film prepared by molecular beam epitaxy

Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (Bi2212) thin film is an important superconducting material ascribed to its high transition temperatures and low toxicity, but the application of Bi2212 thin films is limited due to the appearances of intergrowth and impurity phases. To achieve high-quality Bi2212 thin film by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), the oxidizing gas pressure and substrate temperature are the key parameters. Here, the phase formation in Bi-based thin films grown by MBE was studied as a function of oxidizing gas pressure and substrate temperature. Furthermore, the thermodynamic parameters have been investigated through enthalpy change. This study indicates that the substrate temperature was increased with the enhancing of ozone partial pressure when the composition ratio is fixed, Bi2212 single phase can be formed. Moreover, the chemical stability decreases in the order of Bi₂Sr₂CuO_6+δ > Bi2212 > Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10+δ.     

Phonon spectra of La-containing Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-based solid solutions measured by inelastic neutron scattering

Phonon spectra of Bi₂Sr_2?y Ca_1?x La _{x + y} Cu₂O_{8 + δ} solid solutions (x=y=0; x=0, y=0.25; x=0.25, y=0; x=0, y=0.5) were measured by inelastic neutron scattering on a DIN-2PI direct-geometry spectrometer. A full-profile analysis of the x-ray diffraction data yielded an estimate of the distribution of alkaline-earth (AE) and La atoms over the Ca and Sr positions in the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ structure. An assignment of the main features in the phonon spectrum to dominant vibrations of certain atoms was made. In particular, the correlation of the x-ray structural data with spectroscopic data implies that the feature due to cation vibrations in the Sr crystallographic positions of the basic 2212 structure (near 11 meV) is single-mode in behavior. Substitution of La for an AE atom modifies the high-frequency part (>40 meV) of the phonon spectrum (which corresponds to vibrations of oxygen in the SrO and CuO₂ layers of the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ structure) and affects the cut-off frequencies in the spectra of solid solutions of various compositions. A comparison of the results obtained in this study with earlier spectra of the 2212 compound, in which Ca was substituted for by Nd, indicates that the shape and intensity of the high-frequency vibration spectra of the samples studied are related to the average cation charge in the SrO layer of the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ structure.     

Influence of flat milling on vortex matching effect in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y with antidot array

Significant enlargements of antidot diameter by Ar-ion milling were observed in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+y single-crystal films with antidot arrays as well as the thinning of the films. In an original sample with triangular array of antidots, whose diameter is about 200 nm, a few dip structures by the matching effect were observed in the vortex-flow resistance as a function of magnetic field. With increasing the milling time, the number of the dips increases and the appearance of the flow resistance becomes periodic oscillations. These features can be explained mainly by the increase of the antidot diameter.     

Low-temperature formation of thermal and electrodynamic states in Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>CaCu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript>

The formation of thermal and electrodynamic states in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ under the condition of current input is studied. The analysis is carried out for partial and complete current penetration under the assumption that the superconductor is cooled down to liquid helium temperature at the zero time. When the current input is continuous, the temperature dependence of the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ specific heat influences the form of the I-V and I-T characteristics of the superconductor. This effect is observed at high electric fields when both stable and unstable states form. As a result, the nonstationary I-V characteristic of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ has the only branch the slope of which is positive and decreases with increasing temperature. Therefore, the higher the rate of current input, the more pronounced the decrease in the slope. It is concluded that one cannot find the current above which instability develops from the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ I-V characteristic if the current input is continuous.     

Anomalous thermal expansion of high-temperature superconductors Bi2Sr2−x LaxCuO6 at low temperatures

The low-temperature thermal expansion of Bi₂Sr_2?x La_xCuO₆ single crystals with different doping levels is measured. The effect of a magnetic field on the thermal expansion of Bi₂Sr_2?x La_xCuO₆ is studied. Anomalous (negative) thermal expansion whose characteristics depend on the doping level of the sample is revealed at T ≤ 10–20 K. It is found that these characteristics are significantly affected by moderately strong magnetic fields (2–4 T). The experimental results can be interpreted within a model relating the anomalous thermal expansion in high-temperature superconductors at low temperatures and the strong effect of the magnetic field on this expansion to the change in the stabilizing role of the charge-density waves in the oxygen sublattice.     

Anisotropic fluctuation magnetoconductivity in Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox thin films

Measurements of the fluctuation magnetoconductivity as a function of both the magnetic field up to 13 T and the temperature in thin films of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x are presented. The variation of the magnetoconductivity with the magnetic field strength is quadratic at temperatures distantly above the critical temperatureT _c and changes to an entirely negative curvature nearT _c . The latter behavior is attributed to an inhomogeneous critical temperature in the films. The results are analyzed in terms of recent theoretical models for fluctuation-enhanced magnetoconductivity in layered superconductors. The magnetoconductivity in a magnetic field oriented normal to the copper-oxide layers is dominated by the orbital contribution of the Aslamazov-Larkin effect. The magnetoconductivity in the parallel orientation is distinctly smaller and provides evidence for the corresponding Zeeman contribution. The latter measurement also indicates that the Maki-Thompson process may be insignificant in Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x.     

Step-like growth of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 films on off axis oriented (001) SrTiO3

High-quality Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO) films were grown by means of pulsed-laser deposition on 10° off-axis oriented (001) SrTiO₃ substrates. The films exhibit a step-like morphology and they are properly oriented along the (001) direction. Their normal-state resistivity measured along the tilt (off-axis (100) direction of the substrate) was, typically, 260 times higher than that along the (010) direction. Such films reveal a transverse Seebeck-effect which significantly exceeds that observed with YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO).     

Low-temperature anomalies in thermal expansion of HTSCs: System Bi2Sr2−x LaxCuO6

The data on thermal expansion at low temperatures have been obtained for HTSC single crystals of the system Bi₂Sr_2?x La_xCuO₆ with different doping levels. Anomalous (negative) thermal expansion is observed in the temperature range from 5 to 20 K. It is shown that the anomaly vanishes in an overdoped sample. An anomalously strong effect of magnetic fields of 2–4 T on the negative thermal expansion domain is observed. The effect of field screening, frozen field, doping level, defects and oxygen vacancies on the region of thermal expansion anomalies is investigated. The origin of the observed anomalies in the properties of the system Bi₂Sr_2?x La_xCuO₆, as well as other HTSC systems in which similar anomalies have been observed, is discussed.     

Inelastic neutron-scattering study of the phonon spectrum of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-based Nd-containing solid solutions

A study of the phonon spectra of Bi₂Sr₂Ca_1?xNd_xCu₂O_δ solid solutions (x=0.1, 0.25, 0.75) by inelastic neutron scattering on a DIN-2PI forward-scattering spectrometer is reported. As the Nd content increases, the frequency of the Cu-O stretching vibrational modes increases (by about 70 meV), an effect caused by a change in carrier concentration in the CuO₂ sheet and not depending on the “internal pressure.” An analysis of the displacement of the peak near 11 meV (assigned to cation vibrations in the SrO sheet of the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ structure) suggests that a sizable part of the Nd atoms occupy Sr positions.     

Morphology and electrical properties of pulsed-laser deposited Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ films on vicinal substrates

Thin films of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ have been grown on vicinal (001) SrTiO₃ substrates by pulsed-laser deposition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction reveal well ordered films with the c axis of the film parallel with the c axis of the substrate for miscut angles up to θ_S≈15°. TEM also reveals the step-like film morphology due to step-flow growth. The in-plane and out-of-plane resistivities are independent of film thickness within the range 20–300 nm and agree quite well with Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ single-crystal data. Received:15 May 2000 / Accepted:17 May 2000 / Published online: 9 August 2000     

Preparative and Mössbauer studies of Bi2Sr2Ca n-1Cu n O y compounds withn=2 or 3

The influence of sintering temperatures and nominal starting compositions on the phase contents of polycrystalline Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n-1Cu _n O_4+2n samples are reported. After every sintering the samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction and magnetic AC susceptibility measurements. For Mössbauer studies, in each case also a corresponding specimen containing⁵⁷Fe was synthetized. The identification of various superconducting Bi₂Sr₂Ca _n-1Cu _n O_4+2n phases on the basis of Mössbauer spectra consisting usually of three quadrupole doublets is discussed.