Preparation and properties of (Y,Eu)-123 superconducting single crystals Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A series of single crystals with starting composition Y1-xEuxBa2Cu3O7- (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 1.0) were prepared in Al2O3 crucibles in the self-flux method. A home-made setup for crystal growth and a new flux separation method are introduced. Eu-doped Y-123 single crystals were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and AC susceptibility. All single crystal samples maintain the crystallographical structure of the 123-phase. The SEM and AFM measurements indicate a growth anisotropy. The growth of the (0 0 1) surface is related to different growth mechanisms, and the spiral growth mechanism is the predominant one. For the first time, we observed a regular array of groove on (0 0 1) surface. A drastic suppression of the superconducting transition temperature with Eu concentration was observed. Al contamination from crucible corrosion and Eu substitution for the Ba site result in a heavy reduction of Tc in single crystals. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • PHYSICA C-SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND ITS APPLICATIONS

author list (cited authors)

  • Yin, Z. G., Li, Y., Xiong, X. T., Liu, Y., Cao, G. H., & Ross, J. H.

citation count

  • 2

complete list of authors

  • Yin, ZG||Li, Y||Xiong, XT||Liu, Y||Cao, GH||Ross, JH

publication date

  • July 2003