Thermochemical measurements and assessment of the phase diagrams in the system Y-Ba-Cu-O

The aim of this project was to provide a self-consistent set of Gibbs energy data for all phases in the system Y-Ba-Cu-O. Experimental thermochemical investigations by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG), electromotive force measurements (EMF), oxygen coulometric titration (OCT), drop and solution calorimetry and conventional phase analysis (annealing, quenching, and X-ray diffraction [XRD]) as well as ab initio calculations of interaction energies for the 123 phase have been carried out. The experimental information (phase equilibria, heat capacity enthalpies of formation, oxygen partial pressures, and so forth) has been used in computer-based assessments of the Gibbs energies. These data have been employed to generate phase diagrams by way of equilibrium computations. All binary and ternary subsystems have been fully assessed. For the quaternary system a dataset covering the subsolidus range has been derived. Applications of the data to practical questions, such as the production of 123 superconductors by an MOCVD process, the producibility of metallic precursors, and the oxidation of a copper-enriched stoichiometric oxide precursor, are demonstrated.