Fabrication of YBa2Cu3O7−x superconducting bulk with aligned microstructure by sintering technique

Abstract

By controlling the pH of mixed nitrate solutions, we have produced single-phase YBa2Cu3O7−x platelet particles with an average size of 2.5 μm. The kinetics of superconducting phase formation and the thermal properties of the related phases were systematically studied. Through this understanding, we have developed sintering techniques which produce YBa2Cu3O7−x with wide areas of highly aligned grains at 1010 °C. By incorporating aligned microsized particles into the matrix of this reactive precursor powder as nucleation sites, samples with large randomly oriented domains can be formed at 980 °C.