POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTING MATERIAL YBa2Cu3O7-x AS OXYGEN RESISTANCE SENSORS

Abstract

Potential application of superconducting material YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x for both bulk and thick film samples as oxygen resistance sensors was investigated. The oxygen diffusion kinetics of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x was studied by thermal analysis technology and the resistance dependence on the oxygen partial pressure was measured. The experiment shows that the changing of oxygen pressure can result in oxygen desorption and absorption, and in-diffusion is more rapid than out-diffusion. The oxygen stoichiometry and conductivity of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x have strong relations with temperature and the partial pressure of environmental oxygen. The responding properties of the thick film to the changing of oxygen partial pressure have been improved in comparison with the bulk samples. The sensitivity to the oxygen pressure of thick film varies with temperature and reaches a maximum value 62 at 650°C.