Study of the growth orientation of Bi-2212 single crystals via X-ray diffraction
Abstract
Bi-2212 single crystals were grown via melting with flux. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies indicated that the direction of easy growth was not parallel to the a, b, or c axis. This was supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that showed parallel layering and tilted growth steps in the crystal. Therefore, we conclude that the crystal habit is oblique, i.e., the crystals are stacked neither perpendicular nor parallel to the direction of easy growth. We attribute this habit to the uneven melting of the crystals during the temperature cycling.