Structure and properties of YBCO before and after the short-term exposure of the plasma flow

Abstract

The results on the structure and electrical resistance of the porous YBa2Cu3O7–δ nanoceramics before and after plasma treatment are shown. It is shown that after exposure to high-enthalpy argon plasma flow, the structural, stoichiometrical and superconducting properties in the volume of this ceramics change slightly. An amorphous layer forms on the surface, the mechanical strength of the inter-granular bonds of which becomes higher than for the material in the bulk.