Crystal Growth of Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+{\delta}}$ Whiskers from Pulverized Amorphous Precursors

Abstract

High-transition temperature superconducting whiskers of Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+{\delta}}$ were successfully grown from pulverized amorphous precursors. The obtained whiskers revealed a typical composition and diffraction patterns of a superconducting Bi-2212 phase. The whiskers from tiny precursors exhibit a spiral feature, suggesting a contribution from the growth mechanism of both vapor-liquid-solid and compressive stress models. The proposed method provides longer whiskers against the growth period, compared with that from conventional root-growth method.