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Title: Atomic-scale analyses of Nb3Sn on Nb prepared by vapor diffusion for superconducting radiofrequency cavity applications: a correlative study

Journal Article · · Superconductor Science and Technology
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [3]
  1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
  2. Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
  3. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  4. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

We report on atomic-scale analyses of the microstructure of an Nb3Sn coating on Nb, prepared by a vapor diffusion process for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity applications using transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and first-principles calculations. Epitaxial growth of Nb3Sn on a Nb substrate is found and four types of orientation relationships (ORs) at the Nb3Sn/Nb interface are identified by electron diffraction or high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HR-STEM) analyses. Thin Nb3Sn grains are observed in regions with a low Sn flux and they have a specific OR: Nb3Sn //Nb and Nb3Sn //Nb The Nb3Sn/Nb interface of thin grains has a large lattice mismatch, 12.3%, between Nb and Nb3Sn (002) and a high density of misfit dislocations as observed by HR-STEM. Based on our microstructural analyses of the thin grains, we conclude that the thin regions are probably a result of a slow interfacial migration with this particular OR. The Sn-deficient regions are seen to form initially at the Nb3Sn/Nb interface and remain in the grains due to the slow diffusion of Sn in bulk Nb3Sn. The formation of Sn-deficient regions and the effects of interfacial energies on the formation of Sn-deficient regions at different interfaces are estimated by first-principles calculations. The finding of ORs at the Nb3Sn/Nb interface provides important information about the formation of imperfections in Nb3Sn coatings, such as large thin-regions and Sn-deficient regions, which are critical to the performance of Nb3Sn SRF cavities for accelerators.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1511670
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1529328
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB]-18-767-TD; FERMILAB-PUB-18-767-TD; 1718533
Journal Information:
Superconductor Science and Technology, Vol. 32, Issue 2; ISSN 0953-2048
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 21 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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