Dissolution and Resolidification of SmBa2Cu3O7-y Seed during Top Seeded Melt Texturing of YBa2Cu3O7-y

During top-seeded melt growth of YBa2Cu3O7-y (Y123) single-domained crystal, seed dissolution occurred while the seed is in contact with Ba-Cu-O liquid, and then the dissolved parts were resolidified during cooling. The growth mode of Y123 crystal was directly affected by the resolidification process of the dissolved part. When the melted part of the seed was resolidified to polycrystal, Y123 grew also as a polycrystalline form. On the contrary, when the dissolved part of the seed completely recovered its mother orientation during cooling, single-domained Y123 crystal could be obtained. The dissolution behavior of the SmBa2Cu3O7-y (Sm123) seed was explained in terms of the solubility of samarium in Ba-Cu-O liquid. And resolidification mode of the melted part was discussed with Sm content within the interdiffusion layer of Sm and Y.