Multiscale distribution of oxygen puddles in 1/8 doped YBa2Cu3O6.67.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Ricci, Alessandro; Poccia, Nicola; Campi, Gaetano; Coneri, Francesco; Caporale, Alessandra Stella; Innocenti, Davide; Burghammer, Manfred; Zimmermann, Martin V.; Bianconi, Antonio
- Source
- Scientific Reports. 8/9/2013, p1-6. 6p.
- Subject
- *SUPERCONDUCTORS
*X-ray diffraction
*OPTICAL diffraction
*SOLID state electronics
*MATHEMATICAL models
- Language
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
Despite intensive research a physical explanation of high Tc superconductors remains elusive. One reason for this is that these materials have generally a very complex structure making useless theoretical models for a homogeneous system. Little is known on the control of the critical temperature by the space disposition of defects because of lack of suitable experimental probes. X-ray diffraction and neutron scattering experiments used to investigate y oxygen dopants in YBa2Cu3O6+y lack of spatial resolution. Here we report the spatial imaging of dopants distribution inhomogeneity in YBa2Cu3O6.67 using scanning nano X-ray diffraction. By changing the X-ray beam size from 1 micron to 300 nm of diameter, the lattice inhomogeneity increases. The ordered oxygen puddles size distribution vary between 6-8 nm using 1 3 1 mm2 beam, while it is between 5-12 nm with a fat tail using the 300 × 300 nm2 beam. The increased inhomogeneity at the nanoscale points toward a network of superconducting puddles made of ordered oxygen interstitials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]