VAPOR-PHASE GROWTH-MECHANISM OF THE BI-BASED-2212 SUPERCONDUCTING WHISKERS

Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (2212) superconducting whiskers can be grown out from an annealed melt-quenched precursor plate in an atmosphere of flowing ox ygen. It was found that other than the appropriate annealing temperatu re and time, glass precursor, flowing oxygen atmosphere and temperatur e gradient in the furnace are vital factors. The relaxation of interna l strain in the melt-quenched precursor provides the driving force for the whisker growth. Flowing oxygen atmosphere and temperature gradien t both play the role of mass transport and accelerate the whisker grow th rate.