Cathodoluminescence microscopy of superconducting and non-superconducting Tl_2Ba_2CuO_(6+ δ) polycrystals

Abstract

Luminescence properties of Tl_2Ba_2CuO_(6+ δ) samples with different superconducting transition temperatures have been studied by cathodoluminescence (CL) in the scanning electron microscope. Independent of the crystal structure, tetragonal or orthorhombic, the Cl spectra show two resolved bands at about 430 nm (2.9 eV) and 540 nm (2.3 eV), respectively. The results show that the 2.3 eV emission is related to oxygen content and is more intense in low-oxygen content superconducting samples. It is proposed that this band is related to a complex center involving oxygen vacancies. A comparison of spectra from Tl_2Ba_2CuO_(6+ δ) and from precursors used in the synthesis (CuO_x, Tl_2Ba_2O_5) has been carried out.