The evaporative decomposition of solutions method (EDS) for the production of ultrafine Y1Ba2Cu3O7 from nitrate and mixed anion precursor solutions

This paper reports on Y1Ba2Cu3O7 prepared by the evaporative decomposition of solutions method. Nitrate and mixed anion solutions were atomized and decomposed at temperatures ranging from 300 degrees C to 950 degrees C. The resulting materials have been characterized using x-ray powder diffraction. Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), particle size analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The powder consists of 0.3 micron agglomerated hollow spheres with a primary particle size of 0.06 micron. TGA and x-ray diffraction indicate the presence of barium nitrate and barium carbonate due to incomplete decomposition and/or product contamination by the process environment