Temperature Dependence of Growth Mechanism for Nanoscale High Tc Superconductors

The growth mechanisms of high temper- ature Yttrium- and Bismuth-based-superconductors were investigated at nanoscale. We started with studying the growth relationships among the three phases of Bi-2201, Bi-2212, and Bi-2233, and then extended to another growth mechanism of Bi-2223 and the growth of yttrium-based high-temperature nanosupercon- ductors (nano-YBCO). A time dependence of growth experiment was performed. In this experiment, the Bi-based superconductors grew within different sintering periods, and its three phases were determined by X-ray diffraction. And then, a time dependence of growth model was suggested to explain the experimental facts. With this model, governing equations were derived to quantitatively describe the growth and decomposition mechanisms during sintering period. The results calculated from the derived equations were well in agreement with the experimental data. We also suggested an alternative growth mechanism for the Bi-2223 phase, which was supported by an observation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nano-YBCO also grew, and their orthorhombic crystal structures were determined by the TEM. The superconducting properties of Bi-2223 were investigated by the measurements of ac magnetic susceptibility. It is expected that the derived equations will fit the alter- native experimental growth mechanism of the Bi-2223 phase and the nano-YBCO growth mechanism, too.