HRTEM STUDY ON THE STRUCTURE OF BOUNDARIES BETWEEN GRAINS OF DIFFERENT PHASES IN BSCCO-TYPE CERAMICS

The structure of grain boundaries between grains of different BSCCO-ty pe phases in BSCCO ceramics is investigated by high-resolution transmi ssion electron microscopy (HRTEM). Regular interphase grain boundary s tructures are found, and corresponding atomic scale models are derived . The structure of two interphase tilt boundaries, viz. 2212/2201 and 2212/1212, is investigated in detail. The results show that - in analo gy to grain boundaries between grains of the same phase also interphas e grain boundaries in high-T-c superconducting (HTSC) materials are ch aracterized by a periodic structure providing alternating areas of goo d and less good conditions for supercurrent flow.