Dielectric properties of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca3Cu4O12−δ bulk superconductor

The dielectric properties of Cu_0.5Tl_0.5Ba₂Ca₃Cu₄O_12−δ superconductor samples were studied at 79 and 290 K by means of capacitance (C) and conductance (G) measurements with the test frequency (f) in the range of 10 kHz to 10 MHz. A negative capacitance (NC) phenomenon has been observed, which is most likely arising due to higher Fermi level of ceramic superconductor samples than metal electrodes. Also the NC may be due to the space charge located at the multiple insulator–superconductor interfaces (grain boundaries) in the materials. The negative dielectric constant (ε′) and loss factor (tan δ) show strong dispersion at low frequencies. The lower thermal agitation at 79 K may enhance the polarizability and hence the dielectric constants (ε′ and ε″).     

Manifestation of vortex depinning transition in nonlinear current-voltage characteristics of polycrystalline superconductor Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3O7−δ

We present our recent results on the temperature dependence of current-voltage characteristics for polycrystalline Y_1−xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ superconductors with x=0.0, 0.1 and 0.3. The experimental results are found to be reasonably well fitted for all samples by a power like law of the form V=R(I−Ic)^a(T). Here, we assume that a(T)=1+Φ₀IC(T)/2πkBT and IC(T)=IC(0)(1−T/TC)^3/2 for the temperature dependences of the power exponent and critical current, respectively. According to the theoretical interpretation of the obtained results, nonlinear deviation of our current-voltage characteristics curves from Ohmic behavior (with a(TC)=1) below TC is attributed to the manifestation of dissipation processes. They have a characteristic temperature Tp defined via the power exponent as a(Tp)=2 and are related to the current induced depinning of Abrikosov vortices. Both TC(x) and Tp(x) are found to decrease with an increase of Pr concentration x reflecting deterioration of the superconducting properties of the doped samples.     

Co-L3 X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis of Pr1−xCaxCoO3−δ and Pr1−xSrxCoO3−δ

The valence state of Co ions in Pr_1−xCa_xCoO_3−δ and Pr_1−xSr_xCoO_3−δ has been investigated by an analysis of the Co-L₃ X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) profile. The observed intensity distributions of Co-L₃ XANES change continuously with increasing concentration of alkaline-earth ions. To investigate the origin of this change in the XANES profile, charge transfer multiplet calculations were carried out, which could successfully explain the change in the spectral profile; they also suggest that the valence state of Co ions in Pr_1−xCa_xCoO_3−δ and Pr_1−xSr_xCoO_3−δ is between 3+ and 4+ and increases gradually with the concentration of alkaline-earth ions.     

Electrical conductivity and structural stability of SrCo1−xFexO3−δ

Perovskite compounds in the system of SrCo_1−xFe_xO_3−δ (x=0.2, 0.4 and 0.6) were synthesized by solid state reaction. SrCo_1−xFe_xO_3−δ shows the p-type small polaron conduction behavior. Electrical conductivity and oxygen vacancy content decrease with increase in Fe content. The incorporation of Fe increases the structural stability of SrCo_1−xFe_xO_3−δ at low temperatures, while decreasing the structural stability at high temperatures. Oxygen partial pressure has a strong influence on electrical conductivity. At low oxygen partial pressure, SrCo_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ will transform from cubic to orthorhombic structure. This structure can remain in 5%H₂/Ar only for a short time and then dissociates into Sr₃Fe₂O_6.64 and Co due to the reduction of B-site elements.     

Hg0.9Tl0.2Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ在磁场下的热导

实验研究了高温超导体Hg09Tl02Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ的低温热导率与温度和磁场的关系,测量温度为7—20K,外加磁场为0—6T.结果表明,在不同外场下,超导体的热导率在实验温区内随温度的增加均单调增加;在固定的温度下外加磁场使超导体的热导率减小,并随外磁场的增加达到一个稳定值;热导的相对变化率κ(H)/κ(0)与磁场的关系以及热导率达到稳定值的磁场与测量温度有关.分析讨论了超导体中正常态电子在磁场下受磁通涡旋散射产生附加的热阻 关键词：     

Effect of high pressure on the fluctuation paraconductivity in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure up to 17 kbar on the fluctuation conductivity of lightly Pr-doped Y_1−xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (x ≈ 0.05) single crystals is investigated. We show that in contrast to non-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ samples, application of a high pressure leads to a substantial increase of the pressure derivative of the coherence length dξ_c/dP and a temperature shift of the 2D-3D crossover point. Possible mechanisms of the influence of high pressure on the critical temperature and the coherence length are discussed within the framework of a model assuming the presence of singularities in the charge carriers electron spectrum typical for lattices with strong coupling.     

Ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic Zn-Co-doped CeO2−δ

Several oxides doped with transition metals can be used in spintronics devices due to their conductive and magnetic properties at room temperature. In this work, samples of Ce_1−2xZn_xCo_xO_2−δ were obtained by an alternative sol–gel proteic process for x=0.01, 0.05 and 0.1. The structural properties of samples were analyzed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Magnetization measurements revealed a ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature probably induced by oxygen vacancies.     

Structure and magnetism in Ho1−xSrxCoO3−δ

We have magnetically and structurally characterized the Ho_1−xSr_xCoO_3−δ family of materials where 0.67≤x≤0.95. The solid solution range and evolution of the structure as a function of x is established and correlated with the broad range of magnetic behavior observed. The structure is shown to be tetragonal I4/mmm although is possibly cubic when x=0.95. For 0.67≤x≤0.9 the material shows antiferromagnetic long range order and ferromagnetic clusters. At x=0.95 the magnetic transition is at 120 K and the imaginary susceptibility becomes non-zero and the temperature of the cusp in the ac susceptibility shows a frequency dependence indicative of glassiness.     

Effect of granularity and inhomogeneity in excess conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7−δ+xBaTiO3 superconductor

Synthesis of polycrystalline YBCO+xBaTiO₃ (x=1.0, 2.5, 5.0) superconductor has been done and the effects of granularity and inhomogeneities due to inclusions of nano-BaTiO₃ in excess conductivity are reported in this work. The phase formation, texture and grain alignments were analyzed through XRD and SEM techniques. SEM results reveal that the grain size is reduced and morphology is improved with the incorporation of nano-BaTiO₃ particles. Superconducting order parameter fluctuation (SCOPF) studies on the electrical conductivity were investigated from the resistivity vs. temperature data in the experimental domain relatively above T_c. Log(Δσ) vs. log(ε) plots show that the 2D to 3D crossover temperature (T_LD) that demarcates dimensional nature of fluctuation inside the grains is influenced by BaTiO₃ incorporation in YBCO matrix. An upward shift of T_LD in the mean field region has been observed as a consequent dominance of 3D region with increase in 1 wt% BaTiO₃ in the composites as compared to higher inclusions. It has been analyzed that microscopic inhomogeneities produced as a result of diffusion of a fraction of Ti ions into the grains affect fluctuations in the excess conductive region. The interplay of microscopic inhomogeneities produced inside the grains and mesoscopic inhomogeneities in the grain boundaries on the excess conductivity has been explained in terms of thermal fluctuations for the composites.     

Epitaxial growth of YSZ buffer layer for YBa2Cu3O7−δ coated conductor by reel-to-reel pulsed laser deposition

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) buffer layers were deposited on CeO₂ buffered biaxially textured Ni-W substrate by reel-to-reel pulsed laser deposition (PLD) for the application of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) coated conductor and the influence of substrate temperature and laser energy on their crystallinity and microstructure were studied. YSZ thin films were prepared with substrate temperature ranging from 600 to 800 °C and laser energy ranging from 120 to 350 mJ. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to investigate how thin film structure and surface morphology depend on these parameters. It was found that the YSZ films grown at substrate temperature below 600 °C or laser energy above 300 mJ showed amorphous phase, the (0 0 1) preferred orientation and the crystallinity of the YSZ films were improved with increasing the temperature, but the surface roughness increased simultaneously, the SEM images of YSZ films on CeO₂/NiW tapes showed surface morphologies without micro-cracks. Based on these results, we developed the epitaxial PLD-YSZ buffer layer process at the tape transfer speed of 3-4 m/h by the reel-to-reel system for 100 m class long YBCO tapes.     

Non-universal dielectric relaxation in SrFeO3 − δ

SrFeO_3 − δ compound is prepared by the thermal decomposition method followed by ball milling. Analysis of Mössbauer spectrum and X-ray diffraction study proves the presence of multi-phase nature, i.e., Sr₈Fe₈O₂₃ and Sr₄Fe₄O₁₁ phases at room temperature. Furthermore, the Mössbauer spectrum at room temperature evidenced the presence of major Fe^3.5+ which is the resultant of equal contributions of Fe⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺. The Nyquist plot at all measured temperatures (80–230 K) suggests that the dielectric response is well associated with single relaxation time (exponential parameter, n∼1$n\sim 1$) i.e., the Debye-type. Modulus analysis exhibits the non-universal dielectric behaviour (stretched exponential parameter, β>1$\beta >1$) below 230 K and the Debye-type responds (β∼1$\beta \sim 1$) at and above 230 K. The Debye-type behaviour exhibited by SrFeO_2.81 at around room temperature in its defect state offers a new opening for this material for multifunctional applications.     

Fabrication, sintering and electrical properties of cobalt oxide doped Gd0.1Ce0.9O2 − δ

Ceria-based electrolytes have been widely researched in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which might be operated at 500~600 °C. Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95(GDC10) powders were prepared by a modified chemical co-precipitation process with Gd(NO3)3 and Ce(NO3)3 as precursors, and ammonia and hydrogen peroxide as precipitants. The precursors of GDC10 were fired at 350 °C for 2 h, then the fluorite structure cerias were identified by X-ray diffraction. The powders are well crystallized, with the size about 5 nm and surface area of 148.3 m2/g. Loading 1mol% cobalt oxide as additive, the GDC10 were succeeded to densify at 950 °C by liquid phase sintering mechanism. The grain size of 1CoGDC10 is small, about 100 nm. The electrical conductivity of samples sintered at 950 °C is about 0.01S/cm at 600 °C. The existence of cobalt oxide and smaller grain size of 1CoGDC10 don't affect the electrical conductivity.     

High temperature transport and thermoelectric properties of Ca3−xErxCo4O9+δ

Ca_3−xEr_xCo₄O_9+δ (x=0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.3 and 0.5) samples were prepared using a sol-gel method followed by hot-pressing sintering technique. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed the single-phases of Ca_3−xEr_xCo₄O_9+δ were obtained up to x=0.3 and the crystallinity of the samples decreased with increasing Er-doping amount. The high-temperature (323-1073 K) thermoelectric properties of the samples were investigated. The substitution of Er³⁺ for Ca²⁺ resulted in the decrease of electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and the increase of Seebeck coefficient for all the samples except the x=0.05 one. The dimensionless figure of merit ZT reached 0.28 at 1073 K for Ca_2.7Er_0.3Co₄O_9+δ, indicating the thermoelectric properties of CaCo₄O_9+δ can be enhanced by doping Er in the system.     

Studies on sintering of solid state synthesized Ba1−xKxBiO3−δ superconducting phase

Superconducting Ba_1−xK_xBiO_3−δ pellets were synthesized by solid state reaction followed by sintering. Thermo-gravimetric and differential thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG-DTA) of the mixture of nitrates was carried out to study the reactions during the phase formation. The effect of different sintering temperatures on the phase formation was studied. The X-ray diffraction data confirms the formation of superconducting Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO_2.23 phase at 700 °C. The surface morphological studies as a function of sintering temperature were studied by SEM. It is observed that the pellets prepared by solid state reaction followed its sintering at 700°C shows the superconducting transition at 26.8 K.     

POSITRON LIFETIME STUDIES OF Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3O7-δ AND Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3-xFexO7-δ

In this paper it is reported that the measurement of the bulk positron lifetime as a function of substitution content x in the temperature range from 70 to 220K was performed in two high-T_c superconducting systems, Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xFe_xO_7-δ and Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ. It was found that τ_B of both systems decreases significantly with x and the temperature dependence of τ_B is very weak in normal state. In lower temperature region (Tc), a dramatic x-dependent temperature variation of τ_B was observed in the Ca-substituted system: from a decrease of τ_B with decreasing T to an increase of τ_B. With increasing x, the temperature dependence of τ_B remains weak in the Ca- and Fe- substituted systems. Compared with the experimental data of positron lifetime in other substituted systems and the calculation of the positron density distribution, the authors suggest that positron bulk lifetime spectra behaviour can be interpreted by the physical model based on the transfer of electron density between the CuO₂ planes and Cu-O chains. Therefore, the study of positron lifetime spectra provides a useful means to detect the local charge density and to study the correlation between the electronic structure and the high-T_c superconductivity.     

Preparation of honeycomb porous La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ-Gd0.2Ce0.8O2−δ composite cathodes by breath figures method for solid oxide fuel cells

Honeycomb porous La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ-Gd_0.2Ce_0.8O_2−δ (LSCF-GDC) composite cathodes are prepared using the breath figures (BFs) method with nontoxic and easily available water droplets as templates. The fabrication of honeycomb porous membranes is realized in a relatively humid environment, using a volatile solvent. The microstructure and morphology of the membranes produced are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs suggest that experimental conditions, such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, and concentration of polymer and LSCF-GDC powder, which have direct influence on the solvent evaporation affects the pore structure of the porous membranes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is used to evaluate the polarization resistance of LSCF-GDC composite cathodes prepared at different experimental conditions. The honeycomb porous LSCF-GDC composite cathode showing average pore diameter of 10 μm illustrates the lowest polarization resistance.     

The effect of La-substitution on magnetic properties of nanosized Sr1−xLaxTi0.05Zn0.2(Fe)11.75−δ(Fe)δO19 powders

A series of La-substituted M-type Sr hexaferrite powders Sr_1−xLa_xTi_0.05Zn_0.2Fe³⁺_11.75O₁₉, wherein x ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 with a step of 0.1, have been prepared by the conventional ceramic method and were then milled in a high energy mill to prepare nanosized powders. XRD investigation of the calcined and the milled powders shows that single phase hexaferrite structure has been formed after calcining and has not changed after milling. The lattice parameters and the mean crystallite sizes of the samples have been determined from the XRD data and Scherrer's formula. The results show that the lattice parameters (“а” and “c”) decrease with increase in La-substitution and the mean crystallite size of the milled powders is about 17 nm. Coercivities and magnetizations of the samples in a magnetic field of 16 kOe have been determined from the room temperature hysteresis loops. It was found that both parameters increase with La substitutions up to 0.3 and then decrease for higher substitutions. These variations were attributed to the enhancement of hyperfine field and spin-canting magnetic structure when La content increases. In addition, the magnetizations were smaller for the nanosized samples in comparison with those of bulk ones, which were discussed according to the core-shell model. Also the results show that annealing of the nanosized samples up to 500 °C can enhance coercivity and magnetization of the samples, which is discussed based on crystallite size growth.