Application of electron backscatter diffraction to bulk high-T_c superconductors

We have successfully obtained electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) Kikuchi patterns on various bulk high-T_c superconductors (polycrystalline KClO₃-doped and undoped YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO), single crystalline YBCO and NdBa₂Cu₃O_7-y) and on YBCO and NdBCO thin films. We have established a sample polishing procedure to obtain intense Kikuchi patterns without an additional carbon coating of the ceramic superconductors. We present Kikuchi patterns, pole figures and orientation maps of the samples. On the polycrystalline KClO₃-doped YBCO samples we find two major orientations (001) and (100) normal to the sample surface, while the undoped sample does not exhibit any orientation maxima, which is ascribed to the effect of a liquid phase due to the KClO₃-additive during the preparation process. Furthermore, we discuss the future possibilities for the application of the EBSD technique for growing larger, bulk melt-textured samples for applications.