Abstract
Microstructural properties of pure YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x ceramics and the silver-added YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x / (10 and 30 wt.%) Ag ceramic composites have been investigated by high-resolution scanning Auger electron microscopy (AES). The studies include the measurements of the grain size distribution as well as the elemental composition, both as a function of the silver addition. Moreover, effects of interfacial diffusion of silver into the YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x phase have been investigated by AES mapping and depth profiling measurements. Silver has been found (ref. [1]) to enhance significantly the YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x grain growth with mean grain sizes up to 17 μm for a 30 wt.% silver addition level, (2) to have no strong influence on the structural composition of single grains, and (3) to show no detectable effects of interdiffusion into the YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x phases. It is suggested that these common features of the microstructure should reduce the contact resistances between grains and thus explain the enhanced transport-current carrying capacity of such silver-added YBa 2Cu 3O 7− x /Ag ceramic composite superconductors.
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