PHYSICOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON CRYSTAL-GROWTH OF OXIDE SUPERCONDUCTORS

Single crystals provide a good form for studying of the relationship between the components, structure and properties of the high Tc oxide superconductors. The flux method has become the major way for obtaining the superconducting single crystals of reasonable size and quality. In this paper, a summary of the characteristics of oxide superconducting materials from physico - chemical point of view is given and some physico - chemical methods, especially thermal analysis, for assisting crystal growth is described. A general review is presented, which discusses the series of stages involved in the crystal growth and material science of oxide superconductors, including the synthesis and decomposition, crucible and starting materials, phase diagram and kinetic analysis, crystallization and dissolution, liquidus and solubility, oxidation and reduction and dopants and stoichiometry.