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Updated: May 31, 2026
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Tuning Oxide Properties by Oxygen Vacancy Control During Growth and Annealing
Published on: June 9, 2023
Incommensurate strain-induced ordering of interstitial oxygen in Nb
R P Kurta1, V N Bugaev, A Stierle
1Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Heisenbergstraße 3, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Summary
Interstitial oxygen in Niobium (Nb) forms an ordering wave due to strain interactions. This phenomenon may impact the performance of Niobium radio frequency (RF) cavities used in particle accelerators.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Interstitial oxygen significantly affects the properties of Niobium (Nb).
- Understanding solute ordering is crucial for materials performance, especially in demanding applications like particle accelerators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a semi-phenomenological theory for strain-induced interactions of interstitial oxygen in Nb.
- To predict and characterize the oxygen ordering behavior in Nb.
Main Methods:
- A semi-phenomenological theoretical approach was employed.
- The theory incorporates the intrinsic body-centered cubic (bcc) instability of Nb at a specific wavevector k = 2/3(111).
Main Results:
- The study predicts an incommensurate oxygen ordering wave in Nb.
- The stability range of this ordering phenomenon was investigated.
Conclusions:
- The predicted oxygen ordering wave, mediated by Nb's bcc instability, is a key finding.
- This ordering may influence the performance of Niobium radio frequency (RF) cavities, relevant for high-energy physics applications.
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