Magnetostriction of REBa2Cu3O7-δ

The magnetostriction (MS) of REBa₂Cu₃O_7– (RE=Y, Nd, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, Yb) is reported as a function of magnetic field and temperature forH<5 T and 1.5H>1 T. The MS is much larger when the rare earth carries a magnetic moment, as usual, but the volume MS observed with moment carrying REBa₂Cu₃O_7– is larger than that of nonsuperconducting intermetalics. This effect is explained by the shielding currents which are induced by the 4f magnetic moments in the superconducting CuO-lattice. The thermal expansion of GdBa₂Cu₃O_7– shows a large peak at the ordering temperature of 2.2 K in both the superconducting and the nonsuperconducting samples.     

Irradiation effects on the YBa2Cu3O7-δ superconducting compound

The effects of neutron irradiation on the magnetic and superconducting properties of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7- (Y123) superconducting compound have been investigated. No significant change of the superconducting transition temperature (T _c) was found. The effect of irradiation on the magnetization critical current density (J _c) was studied. Bean's critical state model was used to estimate J _c. Around 40% increase in J _c was found. The temperature dependence of J _c was also studied.     

Crystalline-electric field interactions in DyBa2Cu3O7−δ and TmBa2Cu3O7−δ from161Dy- and169Tm-Mössbauer spectroscopy

¹⁶¹Dy- and¹⁶⁹Tm-Mössbauer spectroscopy is employed to measure the temperature dependence of the electric quadrupole interaction at the rare earth nucleus in orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of DyBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ and TmBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ. Analyses of the quadrupole splittings in terms of the crystalline-electric field parametersB _n ^m are compared with available data from inelastic neutron scattering and¹⁵⁵Gd-Mössbauer measurements.     

REBa2Cu3O7-δ晶体生长和REO1.5-BaO-CuOx相图

REO1.5-BaO-CuOx系统的氧化物超导体从材料成分的角度,可分为REBa2Cu3O7-δ化合物(如YBa2Cu3O7-δ,简称YBCO或Y123)和RE1+xBa2-xCu3O7-δ固溶体(如Nd1+xBa2-xCu3O7-δ和Sm1+xBa2-xCu3O7-δ,简称NdBCOss和SmBCOss).YBCO超导材料非常容易获得精确化学计量比的123成分.而后者,作为固溶体材料的NdBCOss和SmBCOss,成分、结构和性能完全取决于晶体生长的热力学参数.本研究通过提拉法研制REBa2Cu3O7-δ单晶体,并结合REO1.5-BaO-CuOx系统的三元相图特征,讨论REBa2Cu3O7-δ单晶体生长中的成分、结构和性能的控制.     

Single crystal growth of YBa2Cu3O7−δ through a Pt compound intermediate phase

We report the synthesis of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (Y-123 phase)-single crystals, through a different path to the traditional one – which involves Y₂BaCuO₅ (Y-211 phase) as a precursor –. In our case, at 970°C a Pt compound appears: Y₂Ba₃Cu₂PtO₁₀ which dissolves in the melt when heated at 1100°C allowing the growth of Y-123 phase. Large single crystals of Y-123 phase obtained through the route developed in this study showed good superconducting properties with a transition temperature onset at about 85 K; this transition temperature is shifted towards higher temperatures through oxygenation processes that are favoured by their dimensions.     

An investigation of the PrBa2Cu3O7-δ system

Members of the PrBa₂Cu₃O_7– system possessing the orthorhombic structure over a wide range of oxygen stoichiometry (=–0.5 to +0.5) have been prepared and characterized. Similar compositions with a tetragonal structure have also been prepared. None of the oxides is superconducting, independent of the structure or stoichiometry. Praseodymium seems to be present to a small extent in the 4+ state in oxygen-excess (negative ) samples. Orthorhombic PrBa₂Cu₃O_7– samples show the presence of twins suggesting that twins arise from orthorhombicity and have no relation to the superconductivity. A neutron diffraction study of a near-stoichiometric sample has shown a disordered orthorhombic structure with 72% occupancy of the 01 (chain) sites and with no interchange between Pr and Ba sites.Contribution No. 503 from the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit     

Transverse resistance of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

Measured is the transverse electrical resistance of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ single crystals with different oxygen deficiency values (δ) in the temperature range T_c − 300 K. The experimental data are approximated by an empiric expression accounting for the fluctuation conductivity near T_c and the semiconductor-like resistance regime. Our analysis of the concentration dependences of the fitting parameters, in particular, reveals that the resistance temperature dependence is largely affected by the sample's non-homogeneity. The latter, in turn, causes a T_c anisotropy and variable-range hopping conductivity between different phases. The deduced maximal values of the basal-plane coherence length, ξ_xy(0), are comparable with those for low-temperature superconductors.     

Effect of deoxygenation on the weak-link behavior of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

A systematic study of the weak-link behavior for YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ polycrystalline samples has been done using the electrical resistivity and AC susceptibility techniques. The experiments were performed with two samples of similar grain, a sample of well-coupled grains, and a deoxygenated sample in such a way that the oxygen mostly comes from the intergrain region. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the AC susceptibility near the transition temperature (T_c) has been done employing Bean's critical state model. The observed variation of intergranular critical current densities (J_c) with temperature indicates that the weak links are changed from superconductor normal–metal superconductor (SNS) for well-coupled samples to superconductor insulator normal–metal–superconductor (SINS) type of junctions for the deoxygenated sample. These results are interpreted in terms of oxygen depletion from grain boundaries, which in turn decreases the intergranular Josephson coupling energy with a concomitant decrease of pinning of the intergranular vortices.     

Pinning potential in thick PrBa2Cu3Ox/YBa2Cu3O7−δ quasi-multilayers

Using Pulsed Laser Deposition we have fabricated thick quasi-multilayers composed of incomplete layers of PrBa₂Cu₃O_x (PrBCO) nano-dots and layers of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (YBCO). The number of such sequences was between 2 and 6, with the thickness of individual YBCO layers between 565 and 885 nm, and total thickness between 1.13 and 5.31 μm. For the thinner quasi-multilayer, DC magnetization studies showed an increase in the critical current density J_c at all fields in comparison with a pure YBCO reference sample, while the thicker samples showed an increased J_c only in high fields. We have also investigated the frequency dependence of J_c from AC susceptibility studies and found that the pinning potential is well described by a logarithmic dependence on current density. Pinning potentials in PrBCO/YBCO quasi-multilayers also proved to be higher than in the reference sample at high fields. From angle-dependent transport measurements we have found indications of strong pinning centres induced by the (PrBCO) nano-dots, both isotropic and c-axis correlated.     

Fabrication of Intrinsic Josephson Junctions on BI2Sr2CaCu2O8＋δ Single Crystals with Reproducible Surface Junctions

Intrinsic Josephson junctions on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 δ single crystals are successfully fabricated using photolithography and Ar jon milling .Here we discuss the properties of the surface CuO2/metal bilayers and surface junctions prepared with different crystal cleavage conditions and metal film deposition techniques.We show that,by cleaving the crystal at liquid nitrogen temperature in vacuum,the contents of the (interstitial) oxygen in the Bi-O layers become stable upon cleavage,leading to a CuO2/metal bilayer and to surface junctions with reproducible properites,These results can be useful for practical device fabrications as well as for the studies of the contact properties between high Tc superconductors and normal metals.     

Oxygen dynamics in epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films

We have investigated epitaxial YBCO films by Perturbed γγ-Angular Correlation Spectroscopy (PAC) using ¹¹¹In probe atoms. The probes substitute on the yttrium lattice site and hyperfine parameters have been determined unambiguously. Excellent agreement is achieved with full potential electric field gradient (efg) calculations. Good reproducibility has been achieved by our preparation method allowing us to study the influence of oxygen motion on the structural orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetic-relaxation study in melt-textured ErBa2Cu3O7−δ ceramic material

We have studied the zero-field-cooled magnetic relaxation in the melt-textured ErBa₂Cu₃O_7– ceramic material. The magnetic relaxation rate dM/d (ln t) exhibits strong temperature and field dependence in the temperature range up to 80 K and the field range up to 5.5 T. The magnetic relaxation behavior observed in the melt-textured ErBa₂Cu₃O_7– ceramic sample is similar to that in single crystals. The magnetization to noise ratio is much improved, in particular, for temperatures approaching the superconducting transition temperature and for low magnetic fields. Several theoretical models were explored to fit the experimental data.     

Epitaxial growth of solution deposited YBa2Cu3O7-δ films

The solution deposition of YBa2Cu3O7- (Y123) high temperature superconducting thin films was studied. The films were prepared from a polymer-containing precursor onto SrTiO3 (001) and LaAlO3 (001) substrates and mineralized at high temperatures. The process depended on details of the film preparation in a delicate fashion, resulting either in superconducting or non-superconducting thin films. To elucidate this difference in conductivity, scanning electron microscopy and several X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the resulting Y123 layers. Both the morphology of the film and the percentage of non-superconducting minority components are likely to be the origin of the difference in the conductance behavior at low temperatures.     

Study of YBa2Cu3O7−δ ceramics/Al interface

Properties of oxide layers at the interface between Al metal and YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ ceramics were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and impedance measurements. There have been found the oriented grains having their c-plane parallel to the surface of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ. When Al metal was evaporated onto the ceramics sample, the aluminum oxide layer was produced at the interface between Al and YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ because Al metal oxidizes more easily. The oxygen-deficiency was observed at the ceramics side of the interface as examined by X-ray photoelectron spectra. This oxygen-deficiency can be partly replenished by post annealing whereas it can be fully replenished for the sample to which the mechanical polishing is applied beforehand in order to remove the oriented grains. The thickness of aluminum oxide layer was evaluated by means of the impedance measurements using the alternating current three-terminal method.     

多源共蒸发制备高性能REBa2Cu3O7-x涂层导体的进展与展望

REBa2Cu3O7-x (RE：钇、钆等稀土元素,REBCO）高温超导体因其具备较高的不可逆场和上临界场等优越性能,一经发现就备受关注。但由于材料本身固有的陶瓷性及弱连接等属性,导致其实际应用起来难度较大。目前,人们已经发展了诸多制备工艺来克服这些困难,实现了REBCO超导体的实际应用。按照前驱膜沉积方法可将REBCO超导薄膜的制备分为物理法和化学法。本文综述了物理气相沉积（PVD-Physical Vapor Deposition）法中多源共蒸发法制备REBCO超导薄膜的技术起源及演变历程,并与金属有机沉积、金属有机化学气相沉积、脉冲激光沉积等不同方法生产的REBCO超导带材进行对比,突出多源共蒸发法制备的REBCO薄膜性能优异、在商业化生产效率上具有更大的优势。最后对多源共蒸发法制备REBCO超导薄膜进行总结及展望,解决多源共蒸发沉积制备REBCO薄膜的成相机理、提高薄膜的钉扎中心等问题对未来第二代高温超导带材的大规模应用具有重要意义。     

Femtosecond relaxation dynamics of electronic processes and electron-phonon coupling in YBa2Cu3O7-δ and PrBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial films

The room temperature femtosecond relaxation dynamics of reflection spectra of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- with different oxygen contents and PrBa₂Cu₃O₇ epitaxial films have been studied. The relaxation times of R(t) in YBa₂Cu₃O_7- increase from less than 100 fs to more than 1 ps with increasing and with substitution of Pr for Y. The electron and lattice temperature profiles at these quasi-equilibrium state are calculated from the nonequilibrium energy-balance model. The process of electronphonon energy transfer was found to be dominated in our experiments. These results reveal that in 123 phase superconductors decrease of carrier concentration slows down the carrier-phonon coupling and the type of the electron-phonon interaction would be localized. The dependence of electron-phonon coupling to oxygen defects in YBa₂Cu₃O_7- was found to be exp(–).     

Doping effect of Ag nanoparticles on critical current of YBa2Cu3O7−δ bulk superconductor

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of Ag nanoparticles on critical current of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (YBCO) superconductor. Ag nanoparticles with different particle sizes from 30 to 1000 nm were prepared through the chemical reduction of AgNO₃ in an alcohol solution. Then, samples of YBCO superconductors were doped by 1 and 2 wt.% of Ag nanoparticles with different sizes. Samples were characterized with XRD, SEM and EDX measurements. Critical current measurements were performed using a standard four-probe technique at liquid nitrogen temperature. The results showed by increasing of Ag nanoparticles up to 700 nm the J_c increases, but decreases by further increase in Ag particles size. The critical current enhancement is attributed to the improved connectivity between the grain boundaries and better crystallization of the grains.     

Production of thick YBa2Cu3O7-δ films on sapphire with a cerium oxide sublayer

The feasibility of producing high-quality films of the high-temperature superconducting material YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ with thicknesses up to 2.6 μm by dc magnetron sputtering is demonstrated. It is found that inclusions consisting of CuO and YBa₂Cu₃O₈ coexist with the growing film and are “sinks” for defects, nonstoichiometric atoms, and mechanical stresses. X-ray diffraction and Rutherford backscattering studies show that the structural perfection of the films increases as the thickness is increased in the proposed production regime. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 132–136 (September 1999)     

Superlattice structures in solid solution of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ and (Pb,Cu)Sr2(Ca,Y)Cu2O7−δ superconductors

A complete solid solution range exists between the systems YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ and (Pb,Cu)Sr₂(Ca,Y)Cu₂O_7−δ has been found with general stoichiometry (Pb_0.75xCu_1−0.75x)(Sr_2xBa_2−2x)(Ca_0.5xY_1−0.5x)Cu₂O_7−δ. Energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction identified that a true solid solution exists. Superlattice structures observed by electron diffraction across the solid solution range have a modulation range have a modulation periods along a* which can be varied by altering both the compositional parameter x and the overall oxygen content. The existence of these superlattices infers that the solid solution is non-random and therefore thermodynamically non-ideal. The superconducting transition temperatures, T_c, across the solid solution range are also strongly dependent on the composition, x, but no direct relationship with the modulation period has been established. From these studies it may be concluded that the solid solution between known superconductors is possible, although involving some partial ordering of the lattice, but ordering of cations in the rock-salt to charge reservoir layer is not a significant factor in determining the superconducting properities, which depend more closely on the overall composition and hence on the ability of the charge reservoir layer to transfer charge to the superconducting layers.