Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
The grain boundary segregation of Sr in the La1.85Sr0.15CuO4-y system, and its effects on polycrystalline diamagnetic properties, have been characterized. Equilibration at 1000°C reduces grain boundary segregation compared to that which is present at 700°C. Results indicate that critical currents in randomly oriented polycrystalline materials will be improved if annealing treatments can be optimized to minimize grain boundary segregation without degrading lattice oxygen stoichiometry.