Electron backscatter diffraction study of polycrystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ ceramics

The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique was applied to polycrystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ ceramics. To obtain good quality EBSD Kikuchi patterns on the ceramic superconductors, a new sample polishing route was established. Samples with and without KClO₃-doping were investigated; and the crystallographic orientations of the grains were analyzed using pole figures and EBSD orientation mapping. On the polycrystalline KClO₃-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ samples we found two major orientations (0 0 1) and (1 0 0) normal to the sample surface, while the undoped sample did not exhibit any orientation maxima. We ascribe this observation to the effect of a liquid phase due to the KClO₃-additive during the preparation process.