TITLE:
Studies on Nano Crystalline Ceramic Superconductor LaZrYBaCa2Cu3O11 at Three Different Temperatures
AUTHORS:
Anitha S. Nair, Vinila V. S., Sheelakumari Issac, Reenu Jacob, Anusha Mony, Harikrishnan G. Nair, Sam Rajan, Satheesh D. J., Jayakumari Isac
KEYWORDS:
Lanthanum Zirconium Yttrium Barium Calcium Copper Oxide (LaZrYBaCaCuO), XRD, SEM, EDX, Debye Scherrer’s Formula, Instrumental Broadening, Williamson-Hall Plot Method
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Crystallization Process and Technology,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: The high temperature superconductors are ceramic materials with layers
of Copper-oxide spaced by layers containing Barium and other atoms. The Yttrium
compound is somewhat unique in that it has a regular crystal structure while
the Lanthanum version is classified as a solid solution. The Yttrium compound
is often called the 1-2-3 superconductor because of the ratios of its constituents.
Lanthanum Zirconium Yttrium Barium Calcium Copper Oxide (LaZrYBaCaCuO) was
prepared by the usual solid state reaction method. In order to show the
viability of the proposed method, super-conducting powder was prepared in
special furnace. The sample was analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Particle
size determination, SEM and EDX. The comparison of XRD results with JCPDS files
confirmed the orthorhombic structure of the sample with a ≠ b ≠ c and α = β = γ = 90°. Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies revealed that its particle size is in the
nanometer range. It also confirmed the calculated value of particle size from
Debye Scherrer’s formula. EDX spectrum shows the elements of the sample. X-ray
instrumental peak broadening analysis was used to evaluate the size and lattice
strain by the Williamson-Hall Plot method.