Theoretical and experimental study of microstructure in bismuth ceramics by the methods of channel and atomic force microscopy

Van der Waals and interchange interactions have been calculated when scanning an atomic-force microscope point over stepwise surface which simulates the joint of crystallites in bismluth ceramics. The method of sample preparation for superconductivity studies is described. Bismuth composite samples have been investigated with the use of scanning channel and atomic-force microscopes. Comparison of experimental and calculated results show that additional long-term annealing of bismuth ceramics samples promotes orientation ordering, a decrease of crystallite relative height spread and narrows intercrystalline distances