High-resolution transmission electron microscopy

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) has been widely and effectively used for analyzing crystal structures and lattice imperfections in various kinds of advanced materials on an atomic scale. This is especially the case for high Tc superconductors (HTSCs). The most characteristic feature in crystal structures of HTSCs is that there is a common structural element, a CuO2 plane, in which superconductive carriers (positive holes or electrons) are transported. The remaining part, sandwiching the CuO2 planes, accommodates additional oxygen atoms or lattice defects to provide carriers to the CuO2 planes. This is known as the charge reservoir. The transition temperature between superconductive and non-superconductive states, Tc, strongly depends on the concentration of carriers in CuO2 planes and the number of CuO2 planes. Any charge reservoir is composed of some structural elements, including lattice defects. An aim of HRTEM is to clarify the structure of the charge reservoirs. Additionally, a variety of microstructures strongly affect the critical current density, Jc, since they closely relate to the weak link at boundaries between superconductive grains as well as to the pinning of magnetic ̄uxoids. The characterization of point defects, dislocations, stacking faults, precipitates, grain boundaries, interfaces and surface structures is another important aim of HRTEM. In this chapter, we describe some fundamental issues in analyzing crystal structures and microstructures in HTSCs by HRTEM.