Dissolution and resolidification of SmBa2Cu3O7-y seed during top seeded melt texturing of YBa2Cu3O7-y

During top-seeded melt growth of an YBa2Cu3O7-y (Y123) single-domained crys tal, seed dissolution occurred while the seed was in contact with Ba-Cu-O l iquid, and then the dissolved parts were resolidified during cooling. The g rowth mode of the Y123 crystal was directly affected by the resolidificatio n process of the dissolved part. When the melted part of the seed was resol idified to a polycrystal, Y123 grew also as a polycrystalline form. In cont rast, when the dissolved part of the seed completely recovered its mother o rientation during cooling, single-domained Y123 crystal could be obtained. The dissolution behavior of the SmBa2Cu3O7-y (Sm123) seed is explained in t erms of the solubility of samarium in Ba-Cu-O liquid. The resolidification mode of the melted part is discussed in terms of the Sm content within the interdiffusion layer of Sm and Y.