Abstract
We have succeeded in producing of yttrium-barium-cuprate powders using metal alkoxides at below 650°C by sol-gel process. In this work, the basic experiments were focussed on the selection of metal alkoxides as starting materials and suitable solvents to prepare chemical homogeneous solution. A highly concentrated mixed alkoxides solution was prepared using Y(n-OC4H9)3, Ba(OC2H4)2, and Cu(N03)2 as starting materials and that the formation of superconducting 123 powders fired only at 650°C.
The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, TEM, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns of the powders showed a presence of 123 single phase. TEM observation of this powder revealed small spherical partices with an average agglomerate size to be less than 0.05μm.
