HYDROGENATION AND DEUTERIZATION OF EUBA2CU3O7-D HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS

Fe-57 and Eu-151 Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry were used to study the hydrogen or deuterium uptake and to obtain informati on about the localization of hydrogen or deuterium in (EuBa2(Cu(Fe))3O 7-d)-Fe-57 high T(c) superconductors hydrogenated or deuterized either by gas loading or by electrochemical polarization. We have found sign ificant changes in the Mossbauer spectra of superconductor samples due to hydrogenation and deuterization. The following conclusion can be d rawn from the results. The hydrogen and deuterium is localized mainly around the Cu(1) site in these high temperature superconductors hydrog enated or deuterized by gas loading at room temperature. No difference s can be detected between the localization of hydrogen and deuterium. The electrolytic hydrogenation or deuterization of these superconducto rs is accompanied by partial decomposition of the material. In this ca se hydrogen and deuterium tend to be localized around the Cu(2) sites.