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A Convenient, One-Step Synthesis of YBa2CU3O7-x Superconductors: An Undergraduate Inorganic/Materials Laboratory Experiment

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Connie D. Cogdell , Darcey G. Wayment and Dominick J. Casadonte Jr.

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409

Kim A. Kubat-Martin

Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

J. Chem. Educ., 1995, 72 (9), p 840

DOI: 10.1021/ed072p840

Publication Date: September 1995

Abstract

The preparation of YBa2Cu3O7-x (Y-123) high-temperature superconductor material generally requires repeated grinding and heating of binary oxide or carbonate reactants to inhibit the formation of the low-melting insulating phases BaCuO2 and Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211). This multiple processing renders the synthesis tedious and somewhat impractical for use in an undergraduate laboratory setting. We describe here a convenient, single-step synthesis of Y-123 from the ternary oxide precursors Y2Cu2O5 and BaCuO2. This reaction can be accomplished in a single 24 hour period and does not suffer from the formation of eutectic phases. The precursor materials can be prepared and stored in advance of the experiment. Students are also exposed to the concepts of ternary phase equilibria and other concepts of modem material processing.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Inorganic Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Metals

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

Superconductor Synthesis—An Improvement
Bradley D. Fahlman
Journal of Chemical Education2001 78 (9), 1182
- Superconductor Synthesis—An Improvement
  Bradley D. Fahlman
  Journal of Chemical Education2001 78 (9), 1182
  Report on a significant improvement in the synthesis of YBa2Cu3O7-sigma(YBCO), a superconductor commonly used in undergraduate laboratories.
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