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Alberto Martinelli, Maria Roberta Cimberle

Evolution of the structure, microstructure and physical properties of RuSr₂GdCu₂O₈ as a function of the thermal treatment

Keywords: Layered cuprate, Rietveld refinement, TEM, Magnetization, Superconductivity

The crystal structure of RuSr₂GdCu₂O₈ was successfully refined in the orthorhombic system (Pbam space group) using synchrotron powder diffraction data collected on a high purity and low defect containing sample. The microstructures of selected samples submitted to different thermal treatments were investigated by means of TEM analysis: the progressive annealing in an O₂ atmos phere suppresses the formation of nano-domains and extended planar defects, whereas annealing under vacuum favours the formation of extended planar defects and nano-domains as well. Lattice parameters increase with the anneling time, whereas an abrupt decrease of the c parameter occurs after de-oxygenation. A dependence of magnetization and superconductivity on the thermal treatment was evidenced and related to the structural and microstructural changes.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag

Print ISSN: 0044-2968
Volume: 222, 09/2007
Pages: 459 - 465

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