Thermal decomposition of yttrium propionate: film and powder

Silvia Rasi,Susagna Ricart,Xavier Obradors,Teresa Puig,Pere Roura,Jordi Farjas

doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2018.03.021

Abstract

The processes involved in the thermal decomposition of yttrium propionate in oxidizing and inert atmosphere were analyzed with thermoanalytical techniques (thermogravimetry and evolved gas analysis) and with the help of structural characterization (X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis) of intermediate and final products. Samples in the form of films and powders were analyzed. The decomposition behavior studied as a function of particle size and film thickness was investigated. We conclude that, as a consequence of the gas and heat transport, films decompose differently than powders. Finally, two decomposition mechanisms are proposed that are in agreement with the observed volatiles and intermediate phases.

Highlights

The relatively recent interest in yttrium propionate (Y-Prop3) has been boosted by its application in the synthesis of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) [1,2,3]
YBCO belongs to the second generation of high-temperature superconductors, which are applied in the form of tapes, and its entire synthetic process is based on thin film technology
The decomposition as a function of temperature, for films deposited on LAO substrates, was monitored by Thermogravimetric experiments (TG) coupled to evolved gas analysis (EGA)-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and EGA-MS

Summary

Introduction

The relatively recent interest in yttrium propionate (Y-Prop3) has been boosted by its application in the synthesis of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) [1,2,3]. Since during the second stage (growth) the film is treated at much higher temperatures, the choice of the precursor solution plays a fundamental role in the type of intermediate species that are formed and the subsequent choice of the experimental conditions (P,T) to facilitate their conversion to YBCO. In this regard, up to now, there is a wide understanding of the trifluoroacetate (TFA) route [5,6,7] to YBCO, where the precursor solution consists of the trifluoroacetate salts of each metal. It has been shown that, from FF solutions, YBCO can grow through a liquid-solid reaction [11,12], and this in turn can lead to very high growth rates

Methods

Results

Conclusion