A Hydroxycarbonate Route to Superconductor Precursor Powders

ABSTRACTA precipitation process is described for the preparation of powders that can be thermally decomposed to form high critical temperature superconductors such as YBa2Cu3O7. In the process, a cationic solution (a concentrated chloride or nitrate solution) is instantaneously mixed with an anionie solution (a mixture of tetramethylammonium hydroxide and carbonate) to produce a metal-hydroxycarbonate precipitate having the metal stoichiometry of the desired superconducting oxide. The calcining and sintering of the precipitates is critical in controlling the structural integrity and morphology of the superconducting ceramics made from the chem-prep powders, as well as controlling superconducting properties. Under appropriate conditions, high density (>95%) materials that exhibit good superconducting characteristics can be prepared with the chem-prep powders.