Scanning/friction force microscopy study of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} single crystals grown in BaZrO{sub 3} crucibles
- Univ. of Basel (Switzerland); and others
Very pure YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} (YBCO) single crystals grown in BaZrO{sub 3} crucibles are studied in the as-grown and the oxidized state by scanning force (SFM), friction force (FFM) and scanning tunneling microscopies (STM). The images show clean terraces with step-heights of one unit cell along YBCO(001), i.e. 1.2 nm. Only close to step edges is material contrast observed by FFM indicating traces of flux. Some crystal surfaces exhibit over-layer features, such as star-like, ribbon-like and checkerboard-like structures, which exhibit friction contrast implying the presence of different materials on the surface. Tunneling spectroscopy at 4-7 K in high vacuum reveals a superconducting energy gap of 2{Delta} {approx} 26 meV.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 443672
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960808-; ISSN 0022-2291; TRN: 97:000865-0045
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Low Temperature Physics, Vol. 105, Issue 5-6; Conference: 3. international conference on physics and chemistry of molecular and oxide superconductors, Karlsruhe (Germany), 2-6 Aug 1996; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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