Rapid and simple spectrophotometric determination of oxygen stoichiometry in YBCO superconducting materials

A spectrophotometric method that does not require both measuring sample mass and calibration has been developed for determining oxygen stoichiometry in YBCO superconducting materials (bulk samples and films). The method allows the determination of the ratio between oxygen and copper molar quantities, as well as the calculation of the value of the y-coefficient in monophase YBa2Cu3OY superconducting materials. A monophase YBa2Cu3OY bulk sample is analyzed by the suggested method. The R.S.D. of the oxygen stoichiometric coefficient is 0.15%. The accuracy of the results is confirmed by a spectrophotometric method using calibration, as well as by iodometric titrations. The application of the method for determining oxygen stoichiometry in films is tested by analyzing smaller portions of the bulk sample following the procedure for film analysis. Two films of unproven homogeneity are analyzed, and the analytical results obtained are in good agreement with the film superconductivity.