Using the dedicate VG-HB5 STEM microscope, the crystal structure of high Tc superconductor of YBa2Cu3O7-x has been studied via high resolution STEM (HRSTEM) imaging and nanobeam (∽3A) diffraction patterns. Figure 1(a) and 2(a) illustrate the HRSTEM image taken at 10' times magnification along [001] direction and [100] direction, respectively. In figure 1(a), a grain boundary with strong field contrast is seen between two crystal regions A and B. The grain boundary appears to be parallel to a (110) plane, although it is not possible to determine [100] and [001] axes as it is in other regions which contain twin planes [3]. Following the horizontal lattice lines, from left to right across the grain boundary, a lattice bending of ∽4° is noticed. Three extra lattice planes, indicated by arrows, were found to terminate at the grain boundary and form dislocations. It is believed that due to different chemical composition, such structure defects occur during crystal growth. No bending is observed along the vertical lattice lines.
Theoretical Models for High-Tc Superconducting Materials