Affiliations 

  • 1 Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
  • 2 Universiti Putra Malaysia
ASM Science Journal, 2018;11(101):1-7.
MyJurnal

Abstract

Exploiting the merits of superconducting properties, a series of thermal profile was employed
to modify the melt-textured growth of Y−Ba−CuO bulk with BaTiO3 epitaxial
crystal seed. Two thermal routes were used whereby multiple heatings of the samples were
conducted at 940 ◦C and 960 ◦C before elevating to 1040 ◦C and 1070 ◦C, respectively. Our
finding shows that the optimum melt-textured growth window is narrow within the temperature
range of 1010−1040 ◦C. Above the peritectic temperature, partial decomposition of
YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Y123) into YBa2Cu3O5 (Y211) leads to the formation of Y211 multigrains
embedded in the matrix of Y123. The values of Tc for the superconducting Y123 obtained
using the two routes are 78 K and 71 K. The lower Tc suggests the presence of structural
distortion and non-stoichiometry of the samples.