Grain-boundary structure and segregation in Nb3Sn coatings on Nb for high-performance superconducting radiofrequency cavity applications

Lee, Jaeyel; Mao, Zugang; He, Kai; Sung, Zu Hawn; Spina, Tiziana; Baik, Sung-Il; Hall, Daniel L.; Liepe, Matthias; Seidman, David N.; Posen, Sam

doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2020.01.055

Title: Grain-boundary structure and segregation in Nb₃Sn coatings on Nb for high-performance superconducting radiofrequency cavity applications

Journal Article · 01 February 2020 · Acta Materialia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2020.01.055 · OSTI ID:1656652

^[1]; Mao, Zugang ^[2]; He, Kai ^[3]; Sung, Zu Hawn ^[4]; Spina, Tiziana ^[4];

^[2]; Hall, Daniel L. ^[5]; Liepe, Matthias ^[5]; Seidman, David N. ^[2]; Posen, Sam ^[4]

Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Clemson Univ., SC (United States)
Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

Here, we report on atomic-scale analyses of grain boundary (GB) structures and segregation in Nb₃Sn coatings on Nb, prepared by the vapor-diffusion process, for superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavity applications, utilizing atom-probe tomography, high-resolution scanning transmission electron-microscopy and first-principles calculations. We demonstrate that the chemical composition of Nb₃Sn GBs is correlated strongly with the diffusion of Sn and Nb at GBs during the coating process. In a sample coated with a relatively large Sn flux, we observe an interfacial width of Sn segregation at a GB of ~3 nm, with a maximum concentration of ~35 at.%. After post-annealing at 1100 °C for 3 h, the Sn segregated at GBs disappears and Nb segregation is observed subsequently at GBs, indicating that Nb diffused into the Nb3Sn GBs from the Nb substrate. It is also demonstrated that the amount of Sn segregation in a Nb₃Sn coating can be controlled by: (i) Sn flux; and (ii) the temperatures of the Nb substrates and Sn source, which may affect the overall kinetics including GB diffusion of Sn and Nb. An investigation of the correlation between the chemical compositions of GBs and Nb₃Sn SRF cavity performance reveals that the Nb₃Sn SRF cavities with the best performance (high-quality factors at high accelerating electric-field gradients) do not exhibit Sn segregation at GBs. Our results suggest that the chemical compositions of GBs in Nb₃Sn coatings for SRF cavities can be controlled by GB engineering and can be utilized to optimize fabrication of high-quality Nb₃Sn coatings for SRF cavities.

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Research Organization:: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-07CH11359; SC0008431

OSTI ID:: 1656652

Report Number(s):: FERMILAB-PUB--19-720-TD; oai:inspirehep.net:1742098

Journal Information:: Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Vol. 188; ISSN 1359-6454

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Grain-boundary structure and segregation in Nb3Sn coatings on Nb for high-performance superconducting radiofrequency cavity applications

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References (66)

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