International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The trifluoroacetate metal-organic decomposition route to YBa_2Cu_3O_7 film growth was investigated in order to bring new insights in the growth mechanism and its dependence on processing conditions and critical current density. Precursor films were processed on LaAlO_3 substrates at different total pressure, oxygen partial pressure, water vapor partial pressure, and volume gas flow rate keeping the growth temperature at 740 "0C. The influence of these various experimental parameters on the film growth rate, which was evaluated by in situ electrical resistance measurements, was studied thoroughly. It was found that the growth rate is nearly independent of the oxygen pressure and proportional to the square root of the water pressure. Additionally, the growth rate increases with a decrease of the total pressure or an increase of the gas flow rate. An empirical multi-exponential model simulates the experimental data, however, a better understanding was achieved using a theoretical ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Critical current density and dissipation of four sintered YBCO filaments were measured using a continuous DC power supply. Each sample exhibited somewhat different characteristics from the others even though 3 of the 4 samples are from the same batch. The data suggest that it is possible for the YBCO filament to be in a state of stable equilibrium when part of the filament is in the flux-flow state and part of the filament is in the normal state (local hot spots). This behavior may be advantageous for resistive fault current limiters because the intermediate state (partly flux-flow and partly normal) has an overall resistance much higher than that of the flux-flow state but it does not lead to thermal runaway (burnout) or excessive heating compared to a YBCO filament driven into normal state over its entire length. Two of the samples were broken as a result of local burnout.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The use of a selective epitaxial growth technique for fabricating YBCO thin-film microstructures is described. No film post-deposition processing is required; hence damage to the structure is minimized. The technique is compatible with a passivation process to protect the structure without exposure to air. The microbridges, Josephson junctions and rf SQUIDs protected by an amorphous YBCO passivation have long lifetime even after severe accelerated aging tests. Rf SQUIDs fabricated by this technique show a significant reduction of low-frequency noise when operating in weak magnetic fields compared with SQUIDs fabricated by the conventional ion beam etching technique. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

YBCO films were fabricated on PLD-CeO{sub 2}/IBAD-Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7}/Hastelloy substrates using the advanced TFA-MOD process. The effective thickness of the CeO{sub 2} buffer layer for obtaining high I{sub c} was investigated in short samples of YBCO films. The CeO{sub 2} buffer layer was epitaxially grown on an IBAD-Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} template tape with 18 deg. of {delta}{phi} by a reel-to-reel PLD system. The in-plane grain alignment of PLD-CeO{sub 2} buffer layers rapidly improved with the thickness and saturated at a critical thickness of 0.8 {mu}m. The size of CeO{sub 2} grains was about 1 {mu}m at the saturated thickness of {delta}{phi}. YBCO films with the thickness of 1 {mu}m were deposited by the TFA-MOD on the CeO{sub 2} buffer layer with different thickness films. Improvement of the CeO{sub 2} in-plane grain alignment resulted in increase of I{sub c}. The I{sub c} values of 250-290 A were obtained ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

1. In order to carry out isothermic crystal growth experiments of YBCO the 123 primary crystallization field was determined by means of phase diagram investigations and crystal growth experiments at different oxygen partial pressure. 2. YBCO single crystals of high crystallographic perfection were grown and conclusions on the flux pinning mechanism were drawn. 3. By means of Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) single crystalline (Tc{approx}90 K; {Delta}T{<=}0.5 K) c- and a,b- YBCO fils have been prepared on NdGaO{sub 3} and LaGaO{sub 3} substrates. The films were characterized structurally and magnetically. 4. Our fist melt textured YBCO ``single crystals`` possess intracrystalline critical current densities >10{sup 4} A/cm{sup 2} at B{<=}2T. The irreversibility inductions are {<=}6 T at 77 K. A simple demonstrator was constructed together with the IFW Dresden and a growth model was developed. 5. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recently we have found a highly effective additive for the melt growth processings attaining high critical currents in YBCO superconductor. It is platinum and it behaves as an effective grain growth inhibitor for the Y{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5} phase. Even with less than 1 wt.% doping, Y{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5} particles becomes less than one micron in size and distribute themselves to become homogeneously embedded in the large grown YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub y} grains. The sample shows large magnetic hysteresis and a typical J{sub c} value estimated by using Bean's model critical state model is 18000 A/cm{sup 2} at 77 K and 1 T. We found that rhodium has a similar remarkable effect. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The AC susceptibility of La_xNd_1_-_xF_3 single crystals, for 0#<=#x#<=#0.1, has been measured from 1.5 up to 40 K and their DC susceptibility for 0#<=#x#<=#1 has been measured from 3 up to 300 K in magnetic fields up to 0.2 T. In both susceptibilities the magnetic fields were applied parallel to the crystallographic a-axis (perpendicular to the c-axis). The effective Bohr magneton number p_e_f_f and paramagnetic Curie temperature #theta#_p have been obtained, using the Curie-Weiss law in the temperature range 100-300 K. Also the g-values corresponding to the five Kramers doublets in the "4I_9_/_2 ground multiplet of Nd"3"+ ion in La_xNd_1_-_xF_3 have been determined in the direction perpendicular to the c-axis, using the Van Vleck theory of paramagnetic susceptibility. The effect of the dilution of the paramagnetic Nd"3"+ ions with diamagnetic La"3"+ ions is also discussed. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The magnetic structure of a tetragonal Ce(Ru_0_._9_6Pd_0_._0_4)_2Si_2 single crystal, determined by neutron diffraction measurements, is similar to that observed in Rh doped alloys. The magnetic moments are oriented and modulated along the c-axis. Here the wave vector is incommensurate: k=(0,0,0.38). At 1.5 K, the moment is estimated to about 0.3 #mu#_B. Magnetization, magnetoresistance and Hall effect measurements performed on this alloy are also reported. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The structural ordering of oxygen deficient and Co-doped YBCO (YBa_2Cu_3_-_yCo_yO_6_+_x) have been studied experimentally, and by computer simulations of the oxygen ordering in the basal plane of the structure. The calculations are based on the two-dimensional ASYNNNI model and its modifications. Good agreement is established between the ASYNNNI calculations and the experimentally observed structural properties of the double cell ortho-II structure and the oxygen disordering process from Co-doping into the basal plane. A model that relates the superconducting transition temperature T_c(x) of undoped YBCO and T_c(y) of Co-doped YBCO to the formation of specific domains of the two orthorhombic ordered oxygen phases, ortho-I and ortho-II, shows a close agreement with experimental T_c(x) and T_c(y) data of samples prepared under equilibrium conditions. The structural changes as a result of metal ion substitutions and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The electrical resistivity, Hall effect, and magnetic susceptibility of single-crystal UPd_2Si_2 have been studied between 4.2 and 300 K. A large anisotropy was observed in both the magnetic and transport properties. There is a quadratic temperature dependence of the resistivity for a range of temperatures between 4.2 and 80 K. At higher temperatures, the resistivity indicates a Kondo-type behavior. The behavior of these quantities is accounted for by the magnetic phase transitions at 108 and 136 K reported from neutron-scattering studies. At high temperatures, the magnetic susceptibility of UPd_2Si_2 is Curie-Wiess-like along the c axis. The temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient above 108 K is accounted for by a theoretical model invoking skew scattering of conduction electrons by localized magnetic moments.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Properties of photoconductive ultraviolet detectors fabricated on ZnO films were presented. Highly c-axis oriented ZnO films were grown on glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Ultraviolet photodetectors were fabricated based on metal-semiconductor-metal planar structures. The photoresponsivity and the quantum efficiency are much higher in the ultraviolet range than in the visible range, and the peak values are around 360nm. Photocurrent transients show that the detector has a large photocurrent with the peak value of 2.8mA, and a slow photoresponse with a rise time of 5min and a decay time of 7min. The response curve of the detector is fitted well with exponential curve. The large photocurrent should result from the both effects of the accumulation of conduction electrons and the d...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetization, neutron diffraction and "1"6"6Er Moessbauer measurements on ErPd_2Si_2 are reported. Below 4.8 K ErPd_2Si_2 orders AF with complex modulated magnetic structures, where the Er moments are aligned along the c-axis. At 1.5 K a squared structure with #mu#_E_r #approx# 7.8(1)#mu#_B is found while a saturation Er moment of 8.2(2)#mu#_B is inferred from the hyperfine field data. The temperature dependence of the Moessbauer spectra in the paramagnetic region is explained in the framework of a relaxation model implying excited crystal field levels. Its analysis is used to estimate the B"m_n CEF parameters. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Buffer layers with 100% lattice match with YBa2Cu3O7 - ? (YBCO) were prepared from mixed rare-earth-oxides applying a simple sol-gel process and dip-coating method. Structural analysis of the sol-gel derived powder by X-ray diffraction revealed that the mixing parameter, which eliminates the lattice mismatch with YBCO, is x = 0.2382, 0.1852, 0.1252, 0.0906, 0.0793 and 0.0395 in (Eu1 - xHox)2O3, (Eu1 - xErx)2O3, (Eu1 - xYbx)2O3, (Gd1 - xHox)2O3, (Gd1 - xYx)2O3 and (Gd1 - xYbx)2O3, respectively. Microstructural investigations were carried out for Gd1.819Ho0.181O3 films epitaxially grown on cube-textured Ni (100) substrates by sol-gel dip-coating process. X-ray diffraction of the buffer showed strong out-of-plane orientation on Ni tape. The (Gd1 - xHox)2O3 (222) pole figure indicated a single cube-on-cube textured structure. The omega and phi scans revealed good out-of-plane and in-plane alne alignments. The full-width at half-maximum values of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present study has examined for #alpha#/#beta#-Ti alloys the relationship between the morphology and crystallography of Widmanstaetten plates of #alpha#-Ti in colonies within a prior grain of #beta#-Ti. Thus, optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been used to characterize the morphological features of the microstructure, whereas orientation-imaging microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been employed to reveal crystallographic information. It has been discovered that within a prior #beta#-Ti grain, although the growth direction of the Widmanstaetten plates in given colonies may differ by large angles from #alpha#-plates in other colonies, they may exhibit very close crystallographic relationships. For example, inclined #alpha#-plates may share common basal planes and be related by a rotation of #approx#10.5 deg. about the c-axis of the crystals. This phenomenon has been interpreted ...

Science.gov (United States)

We have investigated the nanotexture and crystallographic orientation of aragonite in a coral skeleton using synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Polarization-dependent STXM imaging at 40-nm spatial resolution was used to obtain an orientation map of the c-axis of aragonite on a focused ion beam milled ultrathin section of a Porites coral. This imaging showed that one of the basic units of coral skeletons, referred to as the center of calcification (COC), consists of a cluster of 100-nm aragonite globules crystallographically aligned over several micrometers with a fan-like distribution and with the properties of single crystals at the mesoscale. The remainder of the skeleton consists of aragonite single-crystal fibers in crystallographic continuity with the nanoglobules comprising the COC. Our observation provides information on the nm-scale processes that led to biomineral formation in this ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The possibility of having Sr as an interstitial metal cation in #alpha#-SiAlON has been investigated in two systems: a single-cation system (Si_3N_4-SrO-AlN) and a multication system (Si_3N_4-(Y_2O_3/SrO/CaO)-AlN). It was found that Sr alone does not form #alpha#-SiAlON and that Sr could only be accommodated in #alpha#-SiAlON in conjunction with Y and Ca. The Sr content of #alpha#-SiAlON increased as the total content of (Y + Ca) increased and appeared to reach a limit at 0.5 at.%, or 0.15 atom per #alpha#-SiAlON. Unexpectedly, some of the #alpha#-SiAlON that contained (Sr + Y + Ca) was present as laths or fibers with the c-axis perpendicular to the hot-press direction.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Properties of photoconductive ultraviolet detectors fabricated on ZnO films were presented. Highly c-axis oriented ZnO films were grown on glass substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Ultraviolet photodetectors were fabricated based on metal-semiconductor-metal planar structures. The photoresponsivity and the quantum efficiency are much higher in the ultraviolet range than in the visible range, and the peak values are around 360 nm. Photocurrent transients show that the detector has a large photocurrent with the peak value of 2.8 mA, and a slow photoresponse with a rise time of 5 min and a decay time of 7 min. The response curve of the detector is fitted well with exponential curve. The large photocurrent should result from the both effects of the accumulation of conduction electrons and the decrease of the barrier height between crystallites. The relaxation time constant #tau# obtained from the curve fitting represents the time accumulation during the process. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

DC resistivity, dc magnetization, and specific heat of eight Sc/sub 5/Co/sub 4/Ge/sub 10/-type crystal structure compounds R/sub 5/T/sub 4/Ge/sub 10/ for R = Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and T = Rh and Ir are presented. The resistivity, single crystal magnetization, and specific heat results show that in all those compounds, the magnetic moments order antiferromagnetically in the c direction at low temperature. However, in the Er and Tm compounds, the magnetizations along x-y hard directions do not show any anomalies above 2.0 K. This suggests that the ordered Er and Tm ions, which have positive quadrupole coefficients ..cap alpha../sub j/, interact with a crystal field that has an electronic potential valley along the c axis. The fitting of the hard axis magnetizations to Curie-Weiss law suggests that the resulting antiferromagnetic-like theta reflects the strength of the crystal field torque on the magnetic moments rather than the strength of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The influence of Pd-Ni substitution on the formation of magnetic phases in the tetragonal U(Ni{sub 1-x}, Pd{sub x}){sub 2}Si{sub 2} system and the concentration magnetic phase diagram are presented. A series of different substitutions was prepared and detailed studies by powder neutron diffraction were performed for x=0.25, 0.5 and 0.75. All compounds order antiferromagnetically and form ferromagnetic basal planes stacked along the c axis (q=(0,0,q{sub z}) propagation). The ground-state phase (AF3) of UNi{sub 2}Si{sub 2} is an uncompensated AF structure (++- stacking (q{sub z}=2/3)). In UPd{sub 2}Si{sub 2} the ground-state phase corresponds to the simple AF structure AF2 (+-+-(q{sub z}=1)). In solid solutions, no traces of the AF3 phase were found for x=0.25 and the ground-state powder patterns correspond to AF2 for x{>=}0.25. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Deformation mechanisms of Mg-Al-Zn (AZ31) alloys were investigated by performing tensile test at room temperature. In fine grain Mg alloys deformed at room temperature, nonbasal slip systems were found to be active as well as basal slip systems because of grain-boundary compatibility effect. Slip-induced grain-boundary sliding occurred as a complementary deformation mechanism to give rise to c-axis component of strain. With increasing grain size, the activation of the nonbasal slip systems was limited near grain boundaries. Instead of grain-boundary sliding, twinning occurred as a complementary deformation mechanism in large grained samples. Orientation analysis of twins indicated that twinning is induced by stress concentration due to the pile up of basal dislocations. The grain-size dependence on deformation mechanism was found to affect yielding behavior both microscopically and macroscopically which can influence various mechanical properties such as fatigue ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to fabricate high temperature superconducting tapes for power applications, the authors have analyzed different buffer layer architectures grown on textured Ni substrates suitable for YBCO deposition. Due to its optimal lattice matching the studied structures present as top layer a CeO{sub 2} film. The deposition of CeO{sub 2} on Ni substrates was performed by pulsed laser ablation and by e-beam evaporation at different temperatures. The films obtained by the two deposition techniques have not optimal structural properties, having a polycrystalline component. The misorientation of CeO{sub 2} is probably due to the formation of NiO at the interface between the film and the substrate during the deposition process even if no oxygen is introduced. In order to prevent Ni oxidation an intermediate 2000 {angstrom} Pd thick film was deposited by e-beam. Furthermore, the lattice mismatch between Pd and CeO{sub 2} is smaller than that between Ni and CeO{sub 2}. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this work, ZnO thin films have been grown on glass substrates by using a solution of propanol (C{sub 3}H{sub 8}O), water (H{sub 2}O) and zinc acetate (Z{sub n}(CH{sub 3}CO{sub 2}){sub 2}) in acidified medium (pH 5). The obtained films were n doped with ytterbium (Yb) at the rates of 100, 200 and 300 ppm. The structural features of the doped films were investigated using XRD, atomic force microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy techniques. XRD analysis shows a strong (0 0 2) X-ray diffraction line for increasing Yb-doping amounts. This c-axis preferential orientation of ZnO crystallites is naturally required to use this oxide as transparent conductor in optoelectronic applications. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis shows an enhancement in the surface roughness of the doped ZnO:Yb thin films. Optical measurements were performed in 300-1800 nm domain via transmittance T(lambda) and reflectance R(lambda) spectra. Conjoint optical and thermal properties ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The ternary transition metal chalcogenides A[sub x]M[sub 6]X[sub 8] (A = Tl, K; M = V, Ti; X = S, Se) build up a three dimensional framework with large hexagonal channels running parallel to the crystallographic c-axis. The electropositive elements thallium or potassium are confined within these channels. It is possible to remove the Tl or K atoms via a chemical redox reaction with an I[sub 2]/CH[sub 3]CN solution or with H[sub 2]O. Using SEM it is demonstrated that the host matrix V[sub 6]S[sub 8]'' is only slightly affected by the redox agent. In contrast the host matrix Ti[sub 6]Se[sub 8]'' of Tl[sub x]Ti[sub 6]Se[sub 8] reacts with the I[sub 2]/CH[sub 3]CN solution. The results of the EDXS analyses clearly show that the removal of the electropositive elements proceeds only along the large channels and not through the host matrix. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Single crystals of trigonal Cr{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, monoclinic Cr{sub 5}Te{sub 8}, and trigonal Cr{sub 5}Te{sub 8} were prepared and the single crystal structures were determined. The structures are related to the NiAs structure type by successive removal of Cr in every second metal atom layer parallel to the c axis. The strong relationship between the structures is evidenced by their very similar X-ray powder patterns. In trigonal Cr{sub 2}Te{sub 3} excess Cr occupies only one of the two possible sites. In monoclinic Cr{sub 5}Te{sub 8} the Cr atoms occupy four different crystallographic sites. The resulting ordering of the vacancies is significantly different from the hitherto reported crystal structures of transition metal chalcogenides M{sub 5}X{sub 8}. A slight increase of the tellurium content leads to an order-disorder transition from the monoclinic to a trigonal phase. The Cr atoms are located on four crystallographically different sites ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A novel sodium lead pentaborate, NaPbB5O9, has been successfully synthesized by standard solid-state reaction. The single-crystal X-ray structural analysis showed that NaPbB5O9 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a=6.5324(10) A, b=13.0234(2) A, c=8.5838(10) A, ?=104.971(10)o, and Z=4. The crystal structure is composed of double ring [B5O9]3- units, [PbO7] and [NaO7] polyhedra. [B5O9]3- groups connect with each other forming two-dimensional infinite ?[B5O9]3- layers, while [PbO7] and [NaO7] polyhedra are located between the layers. [PbO7] polyhedra linked together via corner-sharing O atom forming novel infinite ?[PbO6] chains along the c axis. The thermal behavior, IR spectrum and the optical diffuse reflectance spectrum of NaPbB5O9 were reported. -- Graphical abstract: A new phase, NaPbB5O9, has been discovered in the ternary M2O-PbO-B2O3 (M=alkali-metal) system. The crystal structure consists of a novel infinite ?[PbO6] ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To investigate the effect of external loads arising from differential thermal expansion between a substrate and a surface-mount component during thermomechanical cycling, specimens with a nickel surface-mount component on a copper substrate were prepared. Specimens consisted of two 100 #mu#m thick 1 mm"2 solder joints about 9 mm apart, with two designs. In one specimen (denoted 'dual-shear'), the as-fabricated joints were not stressed due to differential contraction during solidification and cool down. In the other specimen (denoted 'component'), a continuous copper substrate between the joints caused the nickel component to be put in compression during cool down, which imposed shear on the joints. To impose differential thermal shear strains, the 'dual-shear' specimen was clamped to a copper block to cause a significant reversal in sign of the shear imposed on the solder joint during cycling. In the 'component' specimen configuration, the existing compressive strain in the component ...