Destruction of modulated structure by high carrier density in high-Tc superconductors

Determination of the microstructure and microchemistry of small features often provides the insight needed for the understanding of processes in real materials. In many cases, it is not adequate to use microscopy alone. Microdiffraction and microspectroscopic information such as EELS, X-ray microprobe analysis and Auger spectroscopy can all contribute vital parts of the picture. For a number of reasons, dedicated STEM offers considerable promise as a quantitative instrument. In this paper, we review progress towards effective quantitative use of STEM with illustrations drawn from studies of high Tc superconductors, compound semiconductors and metallization of H-terminated silicon.Intrinsically, STEM is a quantitative instrument. Images are acquired directly by detectors in serial mode which is particularly convenient for digital image acquisition, control and display. The VG HB501A at Cornell has been installed in a particularly stable electromagnetic, vibration and acoustic environment. Care has been paid to achieving UHV conditions (i.e., 10-10 Torr). Finally, it has been interfaced with a VAX 3200 work station by Kirkland. This permits, for example, the acquisition of bright field (or energy loss) images and dark field images simultaneously as quantitative arrays in perfect registration.

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Intergrowth of modulated structures in high Tc Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100173510 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 76-77

Author(s):

A.Q. He ◽

G.W. Qiao ◽

J. Zhu ◽

H.Q. Ye

Keyword(s):

Twin Structure ◽

Modulated Structure ◽

High Tc ◽

One Dimensional ◽

Lattice Constants ◽

Superconducting Phases ◽

Modulated Structures ◽

Layer Structures

Since the first discovery of high Tc Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor by Maeda et al, many EM works have been done on it. The results show that the superconducting phases have a type of ordered layer structures similar to that in Y-Ba-Cu-O system formulated in Bi2Sr2Can−1CunO2n+4 (n=1,2,3) (simply called 22(n-1) phase) with lattice constants of a=0.358, b=0.382nm but the length of c being different according to the different value of n in the formulate. Unlike the twin structure observed in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system, there is an incommensurate modulated structure in the superconducting phases of Bi system superconductors. Modulated wavelengths of both 1.3 and 2.7 nm have been observed in the 2212 phase. This communication mainly presents the intergrowth of these two kinds of one-dimensional modulated structures in 2212 phase.

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Crystal chemistry of high-Tc superconductors

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100178720 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 1118-1119

Author(s):

Maryvonne Hervieu

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Deficiency ◽

Large Family ◽

Copper Oxides ◽

High Tc Superconductors ◽

High Tc ◽

Single Mechanism ◽

Square Planar ◽

History Of ◽

Bismuth Cuprates ◽

New Compounds

Four years after the discovery of superconductivity at high temperature in the Ba-La-Cu-O system, more than thirty new compounds have been synthesized, which can be classified in six series of copper oxides: La2CuO4 - type oxides, bismuth cuprates, YBa2Cu3O7 family, thallium cuprates, lead cuprates and Nd2CuO4 - type oxides. Despite their quite different specific natures, close relationships allow their structures to be simply described through a single mechanism. The fifth first families can indeed be described as intergrowths of multiple oxygen deficient perovskite slabs with multiple rock salt-type slabs, according to the representation [ACuO3-x]m [AO]n.The n and m values are integer in the parent structures, n varying from 0 to 3 and m from 1 to 4; every member of this large family can thus be symbolized by [m,n]. The oxygen deficient character of the perovskite slabs involves the existence or the co-existence of several types of copper environment: octahedral, pyramidal and square planar.Both mechanisms, oxygen deficiency and intergrowth, are well known to give rise easily to nonstoichiometry phenomena. Numerous and various phenomena have actually been characterized in these cuprates, strongly depending on the thermal history of the samples.

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