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Microstructure, lattice parameters, and superconductivity of YBa/sub 2/(Cu/sub 1-//sub x/Fe/sub x/)/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub delta/ for 0less than or equal toxless than or equal to0. 33

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

Iron was substituted for copper in YBa/sub 2/(Cu/sub 1-//sub x/Fe/sub x/)/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub delta/ for 0less than or equal toxless than or equal to0.33. Superconducting transition temperatures and lattice parameters have been determined as a function of Fe content. The orthorhombic distortion ..delta..a/sub 0/ = 2(b-a)/(a+b) decreased to zero near x = 0.03. Beyond x = 0.03 the structure appears tetragonal. For compositions 0less than or equal toxless than or equal to0.15 the superconducting critical temperature T/sub c/ decreased smoothly from T/sub c/ = 90 K to below 4.2 K. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the spacing between the twin boundaries decreased from /similar to/200 nm for x = 0 to /similar to/20 nm for x = 0.02 before the twins disappeared for x> = 0.03. The sharp streaks in TEM diffraction patterns were interpreted as due to the twin boundary layers whose thickness varied from /similar to/1 nm for the pure to /similar to/2 nm for the Fe (x = 0.02) containing specimen. A tweed structure in the TEM image and associated diffuse streaks along the <110> directions in electron diffraction pattern appeared for x>0.015. This observation suggests that the structure consists of fine (<5 nm) orthorhombic domains, each domain having the twinlike crystallographic relation with its neighbors. Rietveld refinement of powder neutron diffraction for x = 0.10 and 0.167 determined that Fe substituted primarily on the Cu ''chain'' site, and for every two atoms of Fe substituted, approximately one extra oxygen is incorporated in the Cu-O plane.

Research Organization:
Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
OSTI ID:
6407748
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 39:10; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English