X-Ray Computed Tomography Study of the Microstructure of Superconducting MgB2 Bulks

IF 1.6 4区物理与天体物理 Q3 PHYSICS, APPLIED

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism Pub Date : 2025-02-18 DOI:10.1007/s10948-025-06933-8

Yingqing Wang, Chris Grovenor, Susannah Speller, Barbara Shollock, Tayebeh Mousavi

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Abstract

MgB₂ is a promising candidate for commercial superconducting applications because, as grain boundaries in MgB₂ are not weak links, there are fewer limitations on the choice of processing technique compared to high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cuprates. MgB₂ bulks are usually manufactured by powder processing techniques followed by a sintering process. After sintering, the impurity phases such as MgO and MgB₄ along with porosity are formed which strongly affect the superconducting properties mainly the macroscopic path for supercurrent in MgB₂ bulks. Investigation of these microstructural features is essential to improve the superconducting properties of these bulks. In this work, high-resolution laboratory X-ray computed tomography (XCT) has been used to investigate the microstructure of MgB₂ bulks in three dimensions. The volume fraction of defects and impurity phases along with the size distribution of pores have been studied using this advanced technique. A comparison has been made between the data extracted from conventional characterization techniques such as XRD and SEM and those obtained from the advanced XCT analysis.

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超导MgB2块体微观结构的x射线计算机断层扫描研究

由于MgB2的晶界不是薄弱环节，与高温超导铜酸盐相比，加工技术的选择限制较少，因此MgB2是商业超导应用的有希望的候选者。MgB2块体通常是通过粉末加工技术和烧结工艺制造的。烧结后，MgO和MgB4等杂质相以及孔隙率的形成强烈影响了MgB2块体的超导性能，主要是影响了MgB2块体中超导电流的宏观路径。研究这些微观结构特征对提高这些块体的超导性能至关重要。在这项工作中，高分辨率实验室x射线计算机断层扫描（XCT）已被用于研究MgB2块体的三维微观结构。利用这种先进的技术研究了缺陷和杂质相的体积分数以及气孔的尺寸分布。用XRD、SEM等常规表征方法与先进的XCT分析方法进行了对比。

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来源期刊

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism 物理-物理：凝聚态物理

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

11.10%

发文量

342

审稿时长

3.5 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism serves as the international forum for the most current research and ideas in these fields. This highly acclaimed journal publishes peer-reviewed original papers, conference proceedings and invited review articles that examine all aspects of the science and technology of superconductivity, including new materials, new mechanisms, basic and technological properties, new phenomena, and small- and large-scale applications. Novel magnetism, which is expanding rapidly, is also featured in the journal. The journal focuses on such areas as spintronics, magnetic semiconductors, properties of magnetic multilayers, magnetoresistive materials and structures, magnetic oxides, etc. Novel superconducting and magnetic materials are complex compounds, and the journal publishes articles related to all aspects their study, such as sample preparation, spectroscopy and transport properties as well as various applications.