Powder processing of high temperature ceramic superconductor Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10

We have developed a technique to produce high quality Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ powders used for making superconducting wire, tape, lead, shield, and other large scale bulk applications. Starting with T1₂O₃, BaO₂, CaO, and CuO, we mix and grind these chemicals with a machine ball mill and then press the ground mixture into pellets. The pellets are sintered at about 895‡C for at least 30 h in an oxygen atmosphere. The sintered material is mainly the Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ compound. To get more homogeneous superconductor powders, we pulverize the sintered material and use a magnetic superconducting material selector to separate and grade the material. Finally, the top grade material has a phase purity of <98% and a T_c(r < 0) of 123–126K.     

Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x半导体薄膜的红外热辐射响应研究

采用直流磁控溅射后退火法制备了Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x/Si和Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x/ZrO2/SiO2两种半导体薄膜，对该薄膜进行了红外热辐射响应特性研究。采用X射线衍射、电阻温度系数法、喇曼散射表征手段对薄膜的显段结构进行了详细分析。结果表明，有过渡层的Y1Ba2Cu3O7-x半导体薄膜均匀性好，信噪比高，在红外波段和亚毫米波段甚至毫米波段都有良好的热辐射响应，适于制做非制冷探测器的敏感元。     

Microstructure of high Jc NdBa2Cu3Ox/Nd4Ba2Cu2O10 composite superconductor

Single crystalline NdBa₂Cu₃O_x (Nd123) superconductors with dispersed Nd₄Ba₂Cu₂O₁₀ (Nd422) particles were produced by the floating zone partial melting and solidification (FZPMS) method. The initial composition of the precursor material was Nd_1.8Ba_2.4Cu_3.4O_x with or without 0.1 wt% Pt addition. FZPMS was carried out in a low oxygen partial pressure atmosphere. Microstructure of quenched samples were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Furthermore, superconductive properties were measured by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The results of SQUID measurements indicate that the critical temperature (T_c) of the samples with Pt addition so produced with the oxygen heat treatment (623 K for 300 h) was 94 K and the critical current density (J_c) was 2.3×10⁴ A/cm² at 77 K, 0.2 T.     

Preparation of high Tc (Yb,Y)Ba2Cu3O7-δ thin films by co-evaporation from effusion cells

We have prepared superconducting thin films of (Yb,Y)Ba₂Cu₃O_7-δ by evaporation of copper, ytterbium or yttrium, and barium fluoride from Knudsen effusion cells. A simple two chamber vacuum system produced stable evaporation rates of 5–10 nm/min using various Knudsen cells without realtime feedback control. Excellent stoichiometry was obtained in the films by optimizing the deposition of Cu from a dual filament cell, Yb from a single filament cell and Y and BaF₂ from high temperature cells. Films were deposited mainly on SrTiO₃ substrates at temperatures ranging from 120 to 600° C and O₂ partial pressure up to 1.5 ⋻ 10⁻⁵ Torr. Post deposition anneals in O₂ and O₂ + H₂O produced films with room temperature resistivities as low as 227μΩ-cm andT _c (R = 0) at 91 K. Films were characterized using x-ray diffractometry, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy as well as electronic transport measurements.     

Effect of substrate smoothness on the microstructure of YBa9n2Cu3O7−x/Y2O3/YBa2Cu3O7−x trilayers

Transmission electron microscopy was used to analyze the microstructure of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x/Y₂O₃/YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x trilayer structures deposited by off-axis sputtering on MgO substrates with varying degrees of roughness. Substrate surface hillocks with a peak-to-valley height of about 4.5 nm were found to contribute to strain that extended through the film and disrupted the smoothness of the Y₂O₃ layer. In some cases, these hillocks served as nucleation sites for yttria precipitates. Such defects may seriously jeopardize the realization of weak-link Josephson junctions.     

Model for the oxygenation of the YBa2Cu3O7−x 90K superconductor

A model incorporating the thermodynamic equilibrium oxygen content, oxygen in-diffusion, and oxide phases for the oxygenation of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x is described. For sintered polycrystals, grain growth and the resulting grain size distribution are included. The model is used to calculate the volume percent of each oxide phase for several processing conditions of sintered specimens and is compared with available results on the quantification of phases present. Such a comparison indicates that as the concentration of impurity phases increases so does the concentration of the less oxygenated 123 phases, suggesting that impurities coating 123 grains act as oxygen indiffusion barriers. The model is also used to investigate the uniformity of the oxygen content in large twinned and detwinned single crystals such as have been used for measuring superconductivity parameters.     

Electrodeposited Gd2Zr2O7 and Gd2O3 Buffer Layers for YBa2Cu3O7-δ Superconductors

Non-vacuum electrodeposition (ED) was used to prepare a biaxially textured Gd₂Zr₂O₇ (GZO) and GZO/Gd₂O₃ (GO) buffer layer on a Ni-W substrate. The YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) superconductor was deposited by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) on a simplified ED-GZO and ED-GZO/ED-GO buffer layer. The buffer layers and YBCO superconductor were characterized by X-ray diffraction (including θ/2θ, pole figure, omega scans, and phi scans) and atomic force microscopy. Full-width at half maximum values of the omega (ω) and phi (Φ) scans of the electrodeposited GZO and GZO/GO layer were better than those of the Ni-W base substrate. At 77 K and a self-magnetic field, the critical current density of PLD YBCO on the electrodeposited-based buffer layer was 3.3 × 10⁶ A/cm², using the field criterion of 1 μV/cm.     

Y2BaCuO5 particle coarsening during melt processing of YBa2Cu3O7−x

Quenching experiments were carried out to study the coarsening phenomena of Y₂BaCuO₅ (211) particles in liquid (Ba₃Cu₅O₈) which form as a result of the peritectic decomposition of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x (123) above 1010°C. The morphology of 211 particles was observed to become more acicular as the time of hold increased at 1040°C, showing an anisotropic growth rate of the 211 particles in the liquid. Also, the coarsening rate was found to be increased in the presence of excess added liquid phase (Ba₃Cu₅O₈) in the 123. Externally added 211 particles were found to act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the peritectically formed 211. The observed cored 211 morphology development in the Er 211 doped, melt textured, Y 123 pellets was explained on the basis of ripening of 211 particles. Reduced coarsening of 211 particles was observed in the presence of 0.5 wt.% Pt doping.     

Josephson Plasmon Resonance in Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 High-Temperature Superconductor Tunable Terahertz Metamaterials

The Josephson plasmon resonance (JPR) offers a valuable probe to investigate the superconductivity in layered cuprate superconductors. However, the coupling between free space radiation and JPR in high-temperature superconductor (HTS) film remains challenging because the excitation of JPR demands the c-axis oriented electric field. The subwavelength resonators in metamaterials can enhance the localized electric field, which can be utilized to resolve this difficulty. Here, a tunable terahertz (THz) metamaterial made from Tl₂Ba₂CaCu₂O₈ (Tl-2212) HTS film is developed. The spectral response of Tl-2212 metamaterial has a tunable property at temperatures up to 90 K. The resonant excitation of Josephson plasmon in the metamaterial is observed. Simulation results indicate that the scattering of subwavelength resonators can provide the component of the z-axis electric field for the resonant excitation. The coupling between JPR and resonance modes of metamaterials is observed and explained using coupled mode theory. The temperature dependence of JPR frequency shows accordance with the experimental results of the pure film. This work provides an avenue to excite the JPR and probe superconducting condensate in the layered superconductor. The development of Josephson plasmonic metamaterials may contribute to tunable and nonlinear THz devices.     

工艺因素对Ba_(6-3x)(Sm_(1-y)Nd_y)_(8+2x)Ti_(18)O_(54)陶瓷微波特性的影响

探讨了研磨时间，黏合剂浓度、用量，压力，保压时间，预烧温度，烧结温度，烧结时间等工艺因素对Ｂａ６－３ｘ（Ｓｍ１－ｙＮｄｙ）８＋２ｘＴｉ１８Ｏ５４陶瓷（ｘ＝０．６，ｙ＝０．２，０．３）微波性能的影响，试验结果表明，在其他工艺因素控制得当时，预烧温度和烧结温度对微波性能的影响最大。在预烧温度１０５０℃，烧结温度１２００℃下，其微波特性参数εｒ＝７６．１９，Ｑ·ｆ＝１０．２ＴＨｚ，（ｆ＝４．５ＧＨｚ）。本系统陶瓷的烧结温度比一般文献低１００℃左右，性能仍不错。进一步研究可为制备低温烧结微波陶瓷提供可能。     

高频电介质新材料Ba2Ti3Nb4O18陶瓷

采用氧化物固相反应法制备了理论密度达96.8%以上的Ba2Ti3Nb4O18高频电介质陶瓷。XRD和SEM分析表明:该陶瓷为两相混合结构,主晶相为单斜Ba2Ti3Nb4O18相,次晶相为六方Ba3Ti4Nb4O21相。1250℃/2h烧结瓷体Ba3Ti4Nb4O21相的体积分数为5%~8%,1MHz下的介电性能为:εr约为38,tanδ约为1.6×10–4,αC约为–8.51×10–6/℃。     

Electrical and infrared study of Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 in semiconducting,superconducting ceramic and superconducting glass ceramic state

We have studied the electrical and infrared properties of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ compound in three states. Electrical and IR measurements show that the pure powder state sample is a semiconductor, the ceramic Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ sample prepared after annealing at 820°C for 240 hours shows a T_c of 85 K, whereas Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈ sample prepared through glassy route, i.e. melting at 1250°C and annealing at 820°C for 240 hours shows a drop of T_c by 5 K. The infrared spectra of superconducting ceramic and glass ceramic states in the available frequency range of measurement reveals the presence of three phonons. Since the vibrational mode around 595 cm^?1 is due to CuO₂ layers and as the CuO₂ layers are responsible for T_c in the ceramic superconductors, any change in these layers will affect the T_c. The shifting of the 595 cm^?1 mode towards lower frequencies in the glass ceramic due to different preparation process, indicates that there is a change in CuO₂ layers resulting in a change of T_c, which is confirmed by Four probe dc measurements.     

YBa2Cu3O7-δ薄膜激光功率计

基于氧化物高温超导体YBa2 Cu3 O7-δ的各向异性Seebeck(塞贝克 )效应 ,制作了室温下的激光功率计 ,并测量了从红外到紫外波段下的激光响应。结果表明 ,在一定激光功率范围内 ,器件的信号响应与激光功率呈较好的线性关系。综合性测试表明 ,这类器件的优点是频谱响应宽 ,时间响应可达到ns量级     

Fir josephson photoresponse of tilted c-axis epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7-δ

YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ thin films may be epitaxially grown, on suitably prepared substrates, with a non-zero tilt angle between the film's c-axis and its surface normal. These films are fast, room-temperature, thermoelectric detectors with a response extending from UV to FIR wavelengths. We have found that tilted c-axis films, when cooled below T_c, also exhibit a fast and sensitive Josphson photoresponse to 250 µm and 496 µm radiation, in contrast to the nil response of c-axis normal films. It is believed that the non-zero component of the radiation electric field along the c-axis of tilted films modulates relatively weak Josephson critical currents in this direction, generating a photoresponse from current biased samples.     

Electrical characteristics of MOSFETs with La2O3/Y2O3 gate stack

A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) with ultra-thin La₂O₃/Y₂O₃ high-k gate dielectric was fabricated. The effects of thermal treatment process on both physical and electrical characteristics of the La₂O₃/Y₂O₃ stack were studied using XPS and electrical measurements. It was observed that the effective mobility of the fabricated MOSFETs with La₂O₃/Y₂O₃ gate stack was not degraded with increasing the annealing temperatures up to 600 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis also revealed that the formation of SiO₂ and silicate layer at the interface was suppressed in La₂O₃/Y₂O₃ stack compare to that of in La₂O₃ single layer. Obtained results suggesting that La₂O₃/Y₂O₃ gate stack is one of the promising candidates for high-k gate insulator to be used in the future metal oxide field effect transistors.     

Factors affecting Y2BaCuO5 precipitate size during melt processing of YBa2Cu3O7−x

In the microstructures of melt processed YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x (123) superconductors, often unconsumed Y₂BaCuO₅ (211) particles are observed. The 211 particle size and distribution depend upon i) processing parameters such as peak temperature, heating rate, residence time above 1010°C, starting 123 grain size, etc., ii) second phase additions, and iii) the processing route employed. 211 particle size control is of primary interest for enhancing 123 flux pinning, and fracture toughness. Factors which determine the 211 particle size are reviewed.     

LaNiO3 and Cu3Ge contacts to YBa2Cu3O7-x films

Metallization of high-T_c superconductors using low resistivity metal oxides and Cu-Ge alloys has been investigated on high quality pulsed laser deposited epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x (YBCO) films. Epitaxial LaNiO₃ (LNO) thin films have been grown on YBCO films at 700°C using pulsed laser deposition. The specific resistivity of LNO was measured to be 50 μΩ-cm at 300K which decreases to 19 μΩ-cm at 100K indicating good metallicity of the LNO films. The contact resistance of LNO-YBCO thin film interface was found to be reasonably low (of the order of 10^-4Ω-cm² at 77K) which suggests that the interface formed between the two films is quite clean and LNO can emerge as a promising metal electrode-material to YBCO films. A preliminary investigation related to the compatibility of Cu₃Ge alloy as a contact metallization material to YBCO films is discussed. The usage of other oxide based low resistivity materials such as SrRuO₃ (SRO) and SrVO₃ (SVO) for metallization of high-T_c YBCO superconductor films is also discussed.     

Pb/Bi复掺对Y2O3-2TiO2微波介质陶瓷性能的影响

研究了PbTiO3和Bi2Ti2O7复合掺杂对新型的具有中介电常数的Y2O3-2TiO2系微波介质陶瓷物相组成、介电性能和烧结温度的影响。结果表明,掺杂后的陶瓷材料主晶相仍为A2B2O7型烧绿石结构,未发现第二相,Bi3+和Pb2+共同占据Y3+所在的A位。Pb/Bi复合掺杂有效降低了陶瓷的烧结温度,当w(PbTiO3)=2%和w(Bi2Ti2O7)=8%时,烧结温度降低为1 260℃,且陶瓷具有较好的介电性能,即介电常数rε≈64,介质损耗tanδ≈3.6×10-3,品质因数与频率的乘积Q×f≈2 438 GHz。     

Dislocations and flux pinning in YBa2Cu3O7

The dislocation structures of bulk textured and epitaxial thin film YBa₂Cu₃O₇ superconductors are examined. Correlations between increases in flux pinning and dislocation densities are noted. A model for flux pinning by individual dislocations is presented. This gives a treatment of strain induced effects and effects of normal state region interactions. It is shown that the values of pinning predicted are in line with experimental observations.     

Integrated YBa2Cu3O7 magnetometers for biomagnetic applications

Three concepts of integrated magnetometers intended for biomagnetic multichannel systems are investigated: The Ketchen-type magnetometer, the multiloop magnetometer and the magnetometer with integrated multiloop pickup coil (IMPUC). The devices are fabricated from YBa₂Cu₃O₇-SrTiO₃-YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin-film multilayers, and step-edge grain-boundary Josephson junctions as well as ramp-edge junctions with PrBa₂Cu₃O₇ barriers are employed. The magnetometers are compared regarding their effective flux collecting area, inductance and noise performance. With an optimized layout for the multiloop device, we achieve an effective flux collecting area of 2.3 mm² at an inductance of 145 pH. At 77 K we measure a magnetic flux density noise down to √S_B=60 fT/√Hz at 1 Hz and of 17 fT/√Hz in the white noise regime. Due to the low noise levels of the magnetometers high quality magnetocardiograms were recorded inside a magnetically shielded room without signal averaging. The noise performance of the magnetometers is also analyzed in unshielded environment and in static magnetic fields.