Preferential growth of SmBCO on Sm211 whiskers and its dependence upon supersaturation

The process of epitaxial growth of the SmBCO phase on the surface of the Sm211 whisker via the peritectic reaction Sm211+L → SmBCO was first observed in situ by high temperature optical microscopy. A preferential epitaxial relation between the SmBCO and Sm211 was demonstrated. From the bonding energy point of view, it was suggested that both 0 and 45 degrees epitaxial relations between them are appropriate. A schematic illustration as regards the growth dependence of 0 and 45 degrees oriented SmBCO on the supersaturation was proposed to illustrate the growth competition between these two types of SmBCO on Sm211 whiskers in this work