Weak Links, Grain Boundaries and Surfaces of High-Temperature Superconductors

本文的研究重点是高温超导体领域中最关键和最困难的问题之一；在块状和薄膜材料中，晶界作为电流限制结构的作用。本研究将为高温超导体的薄弱环节、晶界结构和组成以及表面特性提供详细的研究。弱链接研究主要集中在多晶块状材料的单晶界上，并将采用可以局部探测临界电流的薄样品和其结构和组成的晶界。使用同步辐射技术的互补表面表征工作也将进行。该研究具有重要的战略意义，可为块状高温超导材料的商业应用提供支持技术。

This research focuses on one of the most critical and difficult issues in the field of high temperature superconductors; the role of grain boundaries as current limiting structures in bulk and thin film materials. This research will provide a detailed study of weak links, grain boundary structure and composition as well as surface properties of high temperature superconductors. The weak link investigations focus on single grain boundaries in polycrystalline bulk materials, and will employ thinned samples for which the critical current can be probed locally and the grain boundaries to their structure and composition. Complementary surface characterization work using synchrotron radiation techniques will also be carried out. This research is potentially of great strategic importance and could provide enabling technology for commercial applications of bulk high temperature superconducting materials.