YBa₂Cu₃O_7-ysingle-crystal growth by the method of horizontally directed temperature gradient

Abstract

YBCO single crystals 1-2-3 were grown from a melted mixture of YBa2Cu3O7-y-BaO-CuO using the method of horizontally directed cooling in the zone melting equipment. This method makes it possible to grow high quality single crystals with dimensions up to 3*2*0.15 mm3, which may then be extracted simply from the crucible. Differences in superconducting properties, parameters of crystal structure and the microstructure were found in single crystals grown in Al2O3 and ZrO2 crucibles. It is possible that these differences are connected with the different stability of the crucibles used and consequently with the presence of impurities in the melted charge during the single crystal growth process.

Crystal growth of in boat crucibles under a horizontal thermal gradient

“…Because YBCO melts incongruently, the use of an appropriate solvent is indispensable. In many cases, a BaO-CuO mixture has been used as the solvent for YBCO crystal growth [3][4][5][6][7][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Kacharava et al [16] and Gagnon et al [17] performed crystal growth under a horizontal thermal gradient.…”

“…In many cases, a BaO-CuO mixture has been used as the solvent for YBCO crystal growth [3][4][5][6][7][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Kacharava et al [16] and Gagnon et al [17] performed crystal growth under a horizontal thermal gradient. In their experiment, however, only small crystals grew in the higher temperature region of the crucible and solidification of the solvent was observed in the lower temperature regions.…”