Effects of Kr and Xe ion irradiation on the structure of Y2O3 nanoprecipitates in YBCO thin film conductors. Issue 35 (12th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suvorova, Elena I.; Uvarov, Oleg V.; Ovcharov, Alexey V.; Karateev, Igor A.; Vasiliev, Alexandr L.; Skuratov, Vladimir A.; Buffat, Philippe A.
• Is Part Of: Philosophical magazine. Volume 98:Issue 35(2018)
• Page Start: 3127
• Page End: 3142
• Publication Date: 2018-12-12
• Subjects: Yttria -- YBCO -- Kr and Xe ions -- radiation damage -- transmission electron microscopy -- electron diffraction; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Matière condensée -- Périodiques; Physique -- Périodiques; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1080/14786435.2018.1521013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-6435

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The response of Y2 O3 nanoprecipitates in a 1-µm YBa2 Cu3 O7-x layer from a superconducting wire Ag/YBCO/buffer metal oxides/Hastelloy to 107 MeV Kr and 167 MeV Xe ion irradiation was investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy, diffraction and X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry. The direct observation of the radiation-induced tracks in Y2 O3 nanocrystals is reported for the first time to the authors' best knowledge. Structureless damaged regions of 5–9 nm (average 8 nm) in diameter were observed in Y2 O3 nanocrystals when the electronic stopping power Se was about or higher than 4.7 keV/nm. This value of Se is the upper estimate of the minimum electronic stopping power to create damage in yttria nanocrystals. The electron diffraction patterns, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform patterns from areas extending a few nanometres around the tracks show that yttria and YBCO keep their respective cubic and orthorhombic pristine structures.