Growth of Bi-2212 single crystals and oxygen diffusion studies

Abstract

Bi-2212 superconducting single crystals were grown by the travelling solvent floating zone method at different oxygen ambient pressure. The weight change of Bi-2212 single crystalline samples as a function of temperature, time and surrounding atmosphere was investigated by a classical thermogravimetric technique. From the size dependence it was found that oxygen out-diffusion takes place in the a-b plane in a quite anisotropic way, i.e. mainly along the a-direction. At 500°C D a/D b≥5–6, D ab ≃6.12 x10 −8( cm 2/ s).