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Atomic structure of grain boundaries and surfaces in YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 minus. delta. and LaBaCaCu sub 3 O sub 7 minus. delta

Journal Article · · Journal of Superconductivity; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00618521· OSTI ID:6259289
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. State Univ., Leiden (Netherlands) Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
  3. Universiteit Antwerpen (Belgium)

High-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) studies of grain boundaries and fractured surfaces in both the tetragonal and orthorhombic phases of dense (> 90%) YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} and tetragonal LaBaCaCu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} have been conducted. Grain boundaries in polycrystalline YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} are found to be frequently parallel to a (001) plane of one of the adjacent grains, with a structure similar to that of the (001) surface of fractured YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}}. Matching of experimental and calculated images shows that the outermost surface layer in this compound is a deformed BaO layer. Both grain boundaries and fractured surfaces in LaBaCaCu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} show no such tendency for preferential orientation of the interface plane. Results indicate that the low critical currents observed in sintered materials are caused by textured grain growth in combination with the atomic structure of the grain boundary plane, and the intercalation of off-stoichiometric species near the grain boundary.

DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
6259289
Journal Information:
Journal of Superconductivity; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Superconductivity; (USA) Vol. 2:3; ISSN JOUSE; ISSN 0896-1107
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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