Seeded crystal growth of YBa2Cu3O6.5 in semisolid melts

Melt textured single crystals of YBa2Cu3O6.5 (123) superconductors were produced by isothermal solidification from a semisolid melt using single crystal NdBa2Cu3O6.5 or SmBa2Cu3O6.5 seeds. The microstructure within the single crystals shows an inhomogeneous segregation of Y2BaCuO5 (211) particles trapped in the 123 crystals during solidification. The concentration of 211 particles varies with the crystal axes in 123 crystals produced from precursors with compositions of 80 wt. % 123 powder and 20 wt. % excess 211. The 211 particle concentration along the c-axis in the crystal is much lower than that along the a- or b-axes during initial crystallization. This concentration increases in both directions as the crystal grows larger. The 211 concentration along the c-axis increases more quickly than the concentration along the other axes during solidification, which allows the 211 concentration to approach that on the other axes as the solidification continues. 211 particle segregation in stoichiometric 123 samples formed ''X''-shaped tracks instead of the variations in 211 concentration described above. A single crystal growth model of 123 is proposed and employed to interpret these experimental observations. Quenched samples were prepared to investigate the volume fraction of 211 particles in the liquid phase. A constant distribution of 211 particles was observed in the Liquid, except very near the crystal interface, where the 211 concentration decreased rapidly. Copper oxide content in the liquid was also measured. It is found that the copper content is lower at the (001) interface compared with (100) or (010) interfaces.