Modification of the Physicochemical Properties of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+ δ by Means of Mechanochemistry

Physicochemical state of YBa2Cu3O 6+ δ powder subjected to mechanochemical treatment was studied by means of thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, iodometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that the indicated treatment causes broadening of the range of variation for oxygen parameter (δ) and an increase in the chemical activity of yttrium/barium cuprate above the limit that can be attributed to a decrease in particle size. The discovered features are due to increased non-equilibrium character of activated YBa2Cu3O 6+ δ, including uncharacteristic combination of the oxidation numbers of copper and oxygen ions interacting with each other (Cu 3+ , O n ).