Aerosol processing of YBaCuO superconductors in a flame reactor

Submicron YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ particles have been produced in an aerosol flame reactor by a spray pyrolysis method in which an aerosol composed of an aqueous solution of Y, Ba, and Cu nitrate salts was introduced into a flame. It was observed that the configuration of the flame is particularly important for the successful application of the method. A premixed flame gave particles with an x-ray diffraction pattern resembling the XRD spectra of materials exposed to high concentrations of water vapor. An over-ventilated diffusion flame configuration produced the desired result: submicron unagglomerated, solid crystalline particles with T_c = 92 K.