Preparation of YBa 2Cu 4O 8 by a seeding method at ambient pressure

Abstract

A seeding method was applied to the processing method of YBa 2Cu 4O 8 superconducting oxide (124 phase). Seed of the 124 phase was prepared by the HIP process. Seed with 25 wt.% was mixed with the matrix oxide prepared by decomposition of nitric salt. They were pressed and fired at 850°C under oxygen gas flow (1 atm of oxygen partial pressure). After repeating the firing, the 124 single phase was obtained. The sample of this 124 phase exhibited superconductivity at onset temperature of 82 K and zero resistive point at 76 K. From the matrix oxide (unseeded), however, the 124 phase could not be formed under the same conditions.