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X. X. Xi

Publications and source records attributed to X. X. Xi.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

In situ epitaxial MgB2 thin films for superconducting electronics

A thin film technology compatible with multilayer device fabrication is critical for exploring the potential of the 39-K superconductor magnesium diboride for superconducting electronics. Using a Hybrid Physical-Chemical Vapor Deposition (HPCVD) process, it is shown that the high Mg vapor pressure necessary to keep the MgB$_2$ phase thermodynamically stable can be achieved for the {\it in situ} growth of MgB$_2$ thin films. The films grow epitaxially on (0001) sapphire and (0001) 4H-SiC substrates and show a bulk-like $T_c$ of 39 K, a $J_c$(4.2K) of $1.2 \times 10^7$ A/cm$^2$ in zero field, and a $H_{c2}(0)$ of 29.2 T in parallel magnetic field. The surface is smooth with a root-mean-square roughness of 2.5 nm for MgB$_2$ films on SiC. This deposition method opens tremendous opportunities for superconducting electronics using MgB$_2$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Superconducting properties of nanocrystalline MgB$_2$ thin films made by an in situ annealing process

We have studied the structural and superconducting properties of MgB$_2$ thin films made by pulsed laser deposition followed by in situ annealing. The cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy reveals a nanocrystalline mixture of textured MgO and MgB$_2$ with very small grain sizes. A zero-resistance transition temperature ($T_{c0}$) of 34 K and a zero-field critical current density ($J_c$) of $1.3 \times 10^6$ A/cm$^2$ were obtained. The irreversibility field was $\sim$ 8 T at low temperatures, although severe pinning instability was observed. These bulk-like superconducting properties show that the in situ deposition process can be a viable candidate for MgB$_2$ Josephson junction technologies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Thermodynamics of the Mg-B system: Implications for the deposition of MgB2 thin films

We have studied thermodynamics of the Mg-B system with the modeling technique CALPHAD using a computerized optimization procedure. Temperature-composition, pressure-composition, and pressure-temperature phase diagrams under different conditions are obtained. The results provide helpful insights into appropriate processing conditions for thin films of the superconducting phase, MgB2, including the identification of the pressure/temperature region for adsorption-controlled growth. Due to the high volatility of Mg, MgB2 is thermodynamically stable only under fairly high Mg overpressures for likely growth temperatures. This constraint places severe temperature constraints on deposition techniques employing high vacuum conditions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗