Microwave absorption investigation on the formation of YBa2Cu3O7−σ by a binary metal oxide route involving interaction of BaCuO2 and Y2Cu2O5

Abstract

Low-field microwave absorption has been used to discriminate between the YBa2Cu3O7−σ high temperature superconductor synthesized by reacting the binary metal oxides, BaCuO2 and Y2Cu2O5, versus synthesis with a single metal oxide route. This discrimination is more clearly seen by microwave absorption than by resistance measurements. Supplementary data was obtained by electron spin resonance in the g=2 region, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and x-ray diffraction techniques. The scanning electron micrographs indicate a more separated granular structure for the material synthesized from the binary oxides. The low field non-resonant microwave absorption, which is characteristic of the superconducting phase, is twice as intense for the binary metal oxide preparation as compared to the single metal oxide preparation. Also, the superconducting transition temperature seems to be several degrees higher for the binary oxide preparation.