Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology

The synthesis of CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> superconducting compounds either requires the adoption of high-temperature synthesis or implies the intimate mixing of the precursors via mechanochemical routes before the thermal step in order to avoid chemical inhomogeneities...

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Main Authors: Anastasiya Duchenko, Achille Angrisani Armenio, Giuseppe Celentano, Alessandra Fava, Daniele Mirabile Gattia, Nicola Pompeo, Enrico Silva, Francesca Varsano, Andrea Masi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/276
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author Anastasiya Duchenko
Achille Angrisani Armenio
Giuseppe Celentano
Alessandra Fava
Daniele Mirabile Gattia
Nicola Pompeo
Enrico Silva
Francesca Varsano
Andrea Masi
author_facet Anastasiya Duchenko
Achille Angrisani Armenio
Giuseppe Celentano
Alessandra Fava
Daniele Mirabile Gattia
Nicola Pompeo
Enrico Silva
Francesca Varsano
Andrea Masi
author_sort Anastasiya Duchenko
collection DOAJ
description The synthesis of CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> superconducting compounds either requires the adoption of high-temperature synthesis or implies the intimate mixing of the precursors via mechanochemical routes before the thermal step in order to avoid chemical inhomogeneities that lead to thermodynamically stable unwanted phases. High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM) represents a useful tool to ensure the comminution of the elements and their dispersion to obtain the target phase. The adoption of mechanochemical treatments is, however, known to lead to the formation of aggregates of small crystals, leading to a powder morphology not optimal for practical applications. In this work, we report our findings in the synthesis of CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> polycrystalline compounds showing the effect of milling energy on the morphology and phase composition of the powders. To overcome the limits of conventional synthesis, we report the results of a novel synthesis approach for CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> materials, highlighting how the choice of the proper precursors and the adoption of milder treatments can represent the key to optimizing the powder morphology.
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spelling doaj-art-2f4b5a59849d4c82b4ab4adc7bd56b482025-08-20T02:11:01ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-03-0115327610.3390/cryst15030276Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor MorphologyAnastasiya Duchenko0Achille Angrisani Armenio1Giuseppe Celentano2Alessandra Fava3Daniele Mirabile Gattia4Nicola Pompeo5Enrico Silva6Francesca Varsano7Andrea Masi8Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Elettronica e Meccanica, Università degli Studi RomaTre, Via Vito Volterra, 62, 00146 Roma, ItalyNUC-FUSEN-COND, ENEA, Via Enrico Fermi, 45, 00044 Roma, ItalyNUC-FUSEN-COND, ENEA, Via Enrico Fermi, 45, 00044 Roma, ItalySSPT-TIMAS-MADD, ENEA, Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 Roma, ItalySSPT-TIMAS-MADD, ENEA, Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 Roma, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Elettronica e Meccanica, Università degli Studi RomaTre, Via Vito Volterra, 62, 00146 Roma, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Elettronica e Meccanica, Università degli Studi RomaTre, Via Vito Volterra, 62, 00146 Roma, ItalySSPT-TIMAS-MADD, ENEA, Via Anguillarese, 301, 00123 Roma, ItalyNUC-FUSEN-COND, ENEA, Via Enrico Fermi, 45, 00044 Roma, ItalyThe synthesis of CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> superconducting compounds either requires the adoption of high-temperature synthesis or implies the intimate mixing of the precursors via mechanochemical routes before the thermal step in order to avoid chemical inhomogeneities that lead to thermodynamically stable unwanted phases. High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM) represents a useful tool to ensure the comminution of the elements and their dispersion to obtain the target phase. The adoption of mechanochemical treatments is, however, known to lead to the formation of aggregates of small crystals, leading to a powder morphology not optimal for practical applications. In this work, we report our findings in the synthesis of CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> polycrystalline compounds showing the effect of milling energy on the morphology and phase composition of the powders. To overcome the limits of conventional synthesis, we report the results of a novel synthesis approach for CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> materials, highlighting how the choice of the proper precursors and the adoption of milder treatments can represent the key to optimizing the powder morphology.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/276iron-based superconductorsmechanical alloyingpolycrystalline bulkgranular superconductors
spellingShingle Anastasiya Duchenko
Achille Angrisani Armenio
Giuseppe Celentano
Alessandra Fava
Daniele Mirabile Gattia
Nicola Pompeo
Enrico Silva
Francesca Varsano
Andrea Masi
Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology
Crystals
iron-based superconductors
mechanical alloying
polycrystalline bulk
granular superconductors
title Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology
title_full Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology
title_fullStr Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology
title_short Influence of Milling Energy and Precursors on CaKFe<sub>4</sub>As<sub>4</sub> Polycrystalline Superconductor Morphology
title_sort influence of milling energy and precursors on cakfe sub 4 sub as sub 4 sub polycrystalline superconductor morphology
topic iron-based superconductors
mechanical alloying
polycrystalline bulk
granular superconductors
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/3/276
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