Published August 1992 | Version v1
Journal article

Preparation, thermal processing behavior, and characterization of YBCO from freeze-dried nitrate precursors

  • 1. Exploratory Research and Development Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
  • 2. Center for Materials Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122 (United States)
  • 3. Center for Materials Research and Technology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-3016 (United States)
  • 4. Department of Materials Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 (United States)

Description

YBCO was synthesized using atomically mixed nitrate precursors. Atomic mixing was achieved using a freeze-dried process which is fully discussed here. The thermal processing behavior of these precursors is fundamentally different from that of mechanical mixtures of the Y, Ba, and Cu oxides and it is examined in detail. Ba2Cu3O5+x (normally considered a high oxygen pressure phase) and Y2O3 formed as nitrate decomposition products at ambient atmospheric conditions. Subsequent reaction of these materials (2 h at 925 degree C) produced polycrystalline YBCO. Without any post-processing of the powders, product YBCO powders consisted of 30 μm agglomerates composed of crystals 1--3 μm on an edge. The powdered products exhibited a magnetic susceptibility greater than 90%-1/4π

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Journal of Materials Research
Journal Volume
7
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
p. 2017-2026.
ISSN
0884-2914
CODEN
JMREEE