Abstract
An application of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) has been demonstrated to be able to determine small concentrations, down to the 100-ppm level, of carbonates in powdery superconductor (SPC) precursor samples. The detection of carbonates in SPC precursor powders is important because of degradation effects on the electrical properties of the final product. Qualitative analysis carried out by DRIFTS shows that strontium carbonate (SrCO3) is the major carbonate present in a batch of SPC precursor powder. Two different calibration approaches are employed in order to determine the SrCO3 concentrations in the SPC powders. The concentrations found by the two methods are in good agreement.
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