Multiscale distribution of oxygen puddles in 1/8 doped YBa2Cu3O6.67

Abstract

Despite intensive research a physical explanation of high Tc superconductors remains elusive. One reason for this is that these materials have generally a very complex structure making useless theoretical models for a homogeneous system. Little is known on the control of the critical temperature by the space disposition of defects because of lack of suitable experimental probes. X-ray diffraction and neutron scattering experiments used to investigate y oxygen dopants in YBa2Cu3O 6+y lack of spatial resolution. Here we report the spatial imaging of dopants distribution in-homogeneity in YBa2Cu3O6.67 using scanning nano X-ray diffraction. By changing the X-ray beam size from 1 micron to 300 nm of diameter, the lattice inhomogeneity increases. The ordered oxygen puddles size distribution vary between 6-8 nm using 1x1 μm2 beam, while it is between 5-12 nm with a fat tail using the 300x300 nm2 beam. The increased inhomogeneity at the nanoscale points toward an intrinsic granular complexity.

letter, 4 figures

References in corpus (9)

• Scale-free structural organization of oxygen interstitials in La2CuO4+y
• Lifshitz critical point in the cuprate superconductor YBa2Cu3Oy from high-field Hall effect measurements
• Resonant and crossover phenomena in a multiband superconductor tuning the chemical potential near a band edge
• The gap amplification at a "shape resonance" in a superlattice of quantum stripes: a mechanism for high Tc
• Optimum inhomogeneity of local lattice distortions in La2CuO4+y
• Inhomogeneous superconductivity and the "pseudogap state of novel superconductors
• A model for the phase separation controlled by doping and the internal chemical pressure in different cuprate superconductors
• Scanning micro X-ray diffraction unveils the distribution of oxygen chains nano-puddles in YBa2Cu3O6.33
• Evidence of a critical hole concentration in underdoped YBa${}_2$Cu${}_3$O${}_y$ single crystals revealed by ${}^{63}$Cu NMR

Cited by in corpus (15)

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• Direct observation of nanoscale interface phase in the superconducting chalcogenide K${}_x$Fe${}_{2-y}$Se${}_2$ with intrinsic phase separation
• Hour-glass magnetic excitations induced by nanoscopic phase separation in cobalt oxides La${}_{2-x}$Sr${}_x$CoO${}_4$
• Intrinsic arrested nanoscale phase separation near a topological Lifshitz transition in strongly correlated two-band metals
• Networks of superconducting nano-puddles in 1/8 doped YBa2Cu3O6.5+y controlled by thermal manipulation
• CDW and similarity of the Mott-Insulator-to-Metal transition in cuprates with the gas to liquid-liquid transition in supercooled water
• Is there any hidden symmetry in the stripe structure of perovskite high temperature superconductors?
• Superconductivity from charge order in cuprates
• Superconductor to Mott insulator transition in YBa${}_2$Cu${}_3$O${}_7$/LaCaMnO${}_3$ heterostructures
• Nanoscale inhomogeneity of charge density waves dynamics in La${}_{2-x}$Sr${}_x$NiO${}_4$
• Multiple electronic components and Lifshitz transitions by oxygen wires formation in layered cuprates and nickelates
• Scale free distribution of oxygen interstitials wires in optimum doped HgBa${}_2$CuO${}_{4+y}$
• Manipulating electronic states at oxide interfaces using focused micro X-rays from standard lab-sources
• 2D nano-granularity of the oxygen chains in the YBa2Cu3O6.33 superconductor
• Gap fluctuations, Cooper pairs with finite center-of-mass momentum, and suppression of superconductivity in inhomogeneous systems with dopant superpuddles agglomerates