Development of the microstructure of uranium-doped Nd-Ba-Cu-O

Melt grown Nd-Ba-Cu-O (NdBCO) has been reported to exhibit higher values of critical current density, Jc and irreversibility field, Hirr, than other (RE)BCO superconductors, such as YBCO. The microstructure of NdBCO typically contains 5-10 μm sized inclusions of the Nd4Ba2Cu2O10 phase (Nd-422) in a superconducting NdBa2Cu3O7-δ phase (Nd-123) matrix. The average size of these inclusions is characteristically larger than that of the Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) inclusions in YBCO. As a result, there is scope to further refine the Nd-422 size to enhance Jc in NdBCO. Large grain samples of NdBCO superconductor doped with various amounts of depleted UO2 and containing excess Nd-422 have been fabricated by top seeded melt growth under reduced oxygen partial pressure. The effect of the addition of depleted UO2 on the NdBCO microstructure has been studied systematically in samples with and without added CeO2. It is observed that the addition of UO2 refines the NdBCO microstructure via the formation of uranium-containing phase particles in the superconducting matrix. These particles are of approximately spherical geometry with dimensions of around 1 μm. The average size of the nonsuperconducting phase particles in the uranium-doped microstructure is an order of magnitude less than their size in un-doped Nd-123 prepared with excess Nd-422. The critical current density of uranium-doped NdBCO is observed to increase significantly compared to the undoped material.

Fabrication of large grain Nd-Ba-Cu-O by seeded melt growth

Large, single grain Nd-Ba-Cu-O (NdBCO) composite samples of NdBa2Cu3O7-δ (Nd-123) containing 15 and 20 mol. % non-superconducting Nd4Ba2Cu2O10 (Nd-422) phase inclusions have been fabricated successfully by a variety of techniques based on top-seeded melt growth under reduced oxygen partial pressure. Specifically, individual grains up to 2cm in diameter have been grown using (100) oriented MgO seeding, self (NdBCO) seeding at elevated temperature and self-seeding of Ag and Au doped precursor pellets. The latter exhibit a reduced peritectic decomposition temperature compared with the undoped compound. These techniques, which vary in degree of difficulty and hence reliability, yield grains with a range of microstructural homogeneity. This paper describes the general aspects of large NdBCO grain fabrication and presents the results of the different fabrication techniques.

Large single grain (RE)-Ba-Cu-O superconductors with nano-phase inclusions

Nano-phase (5-20 nm) particles of YBa2(Cu0.5M 0.6)O6 [where M = Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Zr and Hf] have been introduced successfully into RE-Ba-Cu-O single grain superconductors. A study to enlarge the size of a single grain containing these particles has been carried out involving measurement of the growth rate as a function of YBa 2(Cu0.5M0.6)O6 phase concentration and degree of un-dercooling. The influence of the change in YBa2 (Cu0.8M0.5)O6 concentration on microstructural features is also investigated and the superconducting properties of these large grain superconductors are presented. © 2005 IEEE.

Superconducting properties of Gd-Ba-Cu-O single grains processed from a new, Ba-rich precursor compound

Gd-Ba-Cu-O (GdBCO) single grains have been previously melt-processed successfully in air using a generic Mg-Nd-Ba-Cu-O (Mg-NdBCO) seed crystal. Previous research has revealed that the addition of a small amount of BaO 2 to the precursor powders prior to melt processing can suppress the formation of Gd/Ba solid solution, and lead to a significant improvement in superconducting properties of the single grains. Research into the effects of a higher Ba content on single grain growth, however, has been limited by the relatively small grain size in the earlier studies. This has been addressed by developing Ba-rich precursor compounds Gd-163 and Gd-143, fabricated specifically to enable the presence of greater concentrations of Ba during the melt process. In this study, we propose a new processing route for the fabrication of high performance GdBCO single grain bulk superconductors in air by enriching the precursor powder with these new Ba rich compounds. The influence of the addition of the new compounds on the microstructures and superconducting properties of GdBCO single grains is reported. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Improving the superconducting properties of single grain Sm-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors fabricated in air by increased control of Sm/Ba substitution effects

The extreme sensitivity of Sm/Ba at high temperature in air becomes an obstacle to the fabrication of SmBCO single grains that exhibit stable and reliable superconducting properties. In this research, the superconducting properties of SmBCO single grains fabricated by top seeded melt growth (TSMG) from different batches of commercial SmBa2Cu3O 7-d (Sm-123) precursor powder using different processing atmospheres (air and 0.1% O2 in Ar), different processing methods (isothermal growth and continuous cooling) and different amounts of BaO2 content to suppress Sm/Ba substitution in air have been investigated in an attempt to understand fully the TSMG process for this system. As a result, based on extensive data, a novel and simple, low temperature post-annealing approach is proposed specifically to overcome the sensitivity of Tc to Sm/Ba substitution in order to simplify the fabrication of SmBCO and to increase its reliability with a view to the practical processing of these materials. Initial processing trials have been performed successfully to demonstrate the viability of the novel post-annealing process. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Ln-Ba-Cu-Ag-O多元复合物制备、结构及电学性质的研究

本文合成了LnBa_2Cu_(3(1-x))Ag_xO_(7-δ) (x = 0.1,0.3,0.5, Cu = Y,Dy,Ho,Er,Gd) YBa_(2(1-x))Cu_3Ag_xO_(7-δ) (x = 0.05,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5,0.6); Y_(1-x)Ag_xBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ) (x = 0.05,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.5); YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_x (x = 0.2～2.0), CuBaCu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_x (x = 0.5,1.0, Cu = Dy,Ho,Er)及与之对照的空白样品等一系列超导稀土复合氧化物，对它们的结构、电学性质、Ag的存在状态及Ag的加入方式进行了研究。对这方面的研究目前仍无全面系统的报道。对CuBa_2Cu_(3(1-x))Ag_xO_(7-δ)的研究表明Ag并未取代Cu的格位，少量的Ag加入（x<0.1）就使结构发生破坏，当x>0.1时样品即失去超导性，对光加Ag的YBa_(2(1-x))Cu_3Ag_(2x)Cu_3O_(7-δ)的研究表明，当x<0.6时仍为90k左右的超导体，Ag没有取代Ba的格位，Ag的加入使杂相比例加大，Ag的加入改善了样品晶粒间的弱连接状况，使电流密度明显提高，Ag以单质及复合物形式存在于样品之中。后加Ag方式对结构、电性、无影响没有提高Jc。对光加Ag的Y_(1-x)Ag_xBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ)的研究表明，x<0.5时样品仍为90k左右超导体，Ag的加入使杂相比例减少，Ag部分以单质及与13a、Cu形成对改善弱连接状有益的复合场的形式存在，部分进入晶格可能占据了Y的格位使C轴变长。Ag的加入改善了样品晶粒间的弱连接状况，从而使Jc大幅度提高，当x=0.1时Jc = 362 A/cm~2，后加Ag的方式对结构、电性、无影响没有提高Jc。对YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_x的研究表明，加Ag的样品的Jc比不加Ag样品的Jc明显加大，随着Ag量的加大Jc增加，当x=1时Jc最大，当Ag量大于2.0mol时将有大量Ag析出，Ag的加入不影响超导正交结构，部分Ag进入了晶格可能占据了Y的格位，C轴增长，部分以单质及复合物的形式存在，Ag的加入不影响样品的临界温度，使样品电阻降低，电镜分析表明，Ag的加入改善了样品晶粒间的连接状况。CuBaCu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_x与上面体子有相同的性质，在加入1mol Ag得到，Jc：DyBaCu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_(1.0) 113A/cm~2；HoBaCu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_(1.0) 164 A/cm~2 ErBaCu_3O_(7-δ)Ag_(1.0) 177A/cm~2的样品。样品加Ag后密度明显加大，最大可达6.321克/cm~3，硬度也加大具有良好的机械性能。针对在YBaCu_3O_(7-δ)样品中添加Ag，可以做为一种大幅度提高Jc的途径的特点，进行了各种工艺探索，到目前为止，合成出了临界电流密度为570 A/cm~2的样品。

Layered La-Ba-Cu mixed oxides with perovskite structure as catalyst for NO reduction by CO

The mixed oxides, including LaBa2Cu3O7, LaBaCu2O5, La4BaCu5O12 with perovskite structure, were prepared. The catalysts were characterized by means of chemical analysis, XRD, H-2-TPR. It was found that their structures were layered ABO(3) perovskite structure and they were the active catalysts for the NO reduction by CO. The existence of Cu3+ is an important factor to give the catalysts a high activity for the NO reduction by CO.

Studies on the elimination of NO over the La-Ba-Cu mixed oxide catalysts with perovskite structure

The mixed oxides, including YBa2Cu3O7, LaBa2Cu3O7, LaBaCu2O5, La2BaCu3O7, La4BaCu5O12 with perovskite structure, were prepared. The catalysts were characterized by means of chemical analysis, XRD, TPD and TPR method. It was found that they were the active catalysts for the NO decomposition and NO reduction by CO. The existance of Cu3+ is an important factor to give the catalysts a high activity for the NO reduction by CO.