Crystallographic orientation of Y2Ba4CuMOx (M=Nb, Zr, Ag) nanoparticles embedded in bulk, melt-textured YBCO studied by EBSD

Crystallographic orientations of Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) and embedded Y2Ba4CuMOx (M=Nb, Zr, Ag) nanoparticles in bulk, melt-textured YBCO samples are studied by electron backscatter diffraction. Y2BaCuO5 particles exhibit no preferred orientation but have a strong negative influence on the matrix orientation. In contrast, the nanoparticles do not disturb the texture of the YBCO matrix. Depending on the preparation route, a different particle orientation with respect to the matrix is obtained. Untextured nanoparticles are formed by solid-state reaction during the melt process by adding oxides (Nb2O5 or Y2O3) to the precursor powder. Preformed Y2Ba4CuMOx particles added to the precursor in the form of prereacted nanopowder exhibit a dominant single orientation related to the surrounding YBCO matrix.