Water interaction with the superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 phase

17 August 1987

journal article
research article
Published by AIP Publishing in Applied Physics Letters

Vol. 51 (7) , 532-534
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.98389

Abstract

We show that the superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O₇ phase is highly sensitive to water and water vapor. This is probably due to the presence of nonequilibrium Cu³⁺ ions in this compound. In particular, the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ phase decomposes in water to CuO, Ba(OH)₂ and Y₂BaCuO₅ and evolves oxygen. Samples with a reduced oxygen content, e.g., YBa₂Cu₃O_6.0, also decompose in an aqueous ambient. The superconductivity of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ samples is greatly degraded by the interaction with water and humid air. This effect should not preclude practical application of these materials since it should be possible to protect them with coatings of metal, glass, or plastic.

Keywords

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:

Oxygen stoichiometry in Ba2YCu3Ox
Published by Elsevier ,2003
High T C superconductors—composite wire fabrication
Applied Physics Letters, 1987