Growth and Properties of Large Single Crystals of YBa2Cu3O7-d from BaCuO2/CuO Flux

Abstract

Large single crystals of YBa2Cu307-o have been grown using a BaCu02/CUO flux whose composition lies close to the eutectic in the Y-Ba-Cu-o phase diagram. While the largest crystals produced were '" 20x20xO· 7 mm3, the average size of the remaining crystals was approximately 10x10xO· 5 mm3. These crystals, both as-grown and oxygen annealed, have been characterised using susceptibility measurements, optical and scanning microscopy and X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques.