Microstructure and transport current characterization of YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-x</sub> thick films prepared by modified solid-liquid melt growth and powder melt process routes
J Langhorn; P J McGinn; J Langhorn; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46656, USA; P J McGinn; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46656, USA
Журнал:
Superconductor Science and Technology
Дата:
1999-06-01
Аннотация:
From the characterization of superconducting YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-x</sub> (YBCO) thick films processed by melt texturing on yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates from YBCO precursors it is clear that the properties are highly dependent on the precursor powder. Increased YBCO grain sizes have been induced in thick films processed from by modified solid-liquid melt growth (SLMG) and powder melt (PMP) processes with respect to those processed from pre-reacted YBCO materials. The SLMG and PMP routes utilize precursors consisting of BaCuO<sub>2</sub>-CuO flux material mixed with Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and Y<sub>2</sub>BaCuO<sub>5</sub> respectively. Cross-sectional analysis of films textured by these routes shows a decreased Y<sub>2</sub>BaCuO<sub>5</sub> size and an increased homogeneity within the matrix with respect to films processed from YBCO powder. Such microstructural improvements lead to an improvement of both the flux pinning and current-carrying characteristics of the processed YBCO films.
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