Tc-Mapping and Investigation of Water-Initiated Modification of YBa2Cu3O7-x Thin Films by Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy

Authors

A. V. Bobyl, State Technical University
M. E. Gaevski, Physico-Technical InstituteFollow
S. G. Konnikov, Physico-Technical Institute
D. V. Shantsev, State Technical University
V. A. Solov'ev, Physico-Technical Institute
R. A. Suris, Physico-Technical Institute

Abstract

The T_c -mapping method using low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) has been developed to study the spatial distribution of the critical temperature in high temperature superconducting (HTSC) films with a spatial resolution approaching 2 μm. To achieve so high a spatial resolution, a numerical deconvolution method was applied that eliminated distorting effects associated with the thermal diffusion and with the contribution from the absorbed beam current. The T_c -mapping method was used to investigate modification by water of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x films grown on (100) MgO and (110) LaAIO₃ substrates. The rate of modification of a [110]-oriented YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x/LaAIO₃ film is found to be 40 times that of a c-axis oriented YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x/MgO epitaxial film. It is argued that water-initiated modification of the films results from penetration of hydrogen into the films, rather than from out-diffusion of oxygen.

Recommended Citation

Bobyl, A. V.; Gaevski, M. E.; Konnikov, S. G.; Shantsev, D. V.; Solov'ev, V. A.; and Suris, R. A. (1996) "Tc-Mapping and Investigation of Water-Initiated Modification of YBa2Cu3O7-x Thin Films by Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 10: No. 3, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol10/iss3/6