摘要
A microscopic chemical analysis of BiSrCaCuO (BSCCO) 2212 single crystals was performed with an unprecedented combination of high (submicron) lateral resolution and high energy resolution (100 meV or better). These performances, achieved with imaging synchrotron spectromicroscopy, enabled us to detect in a very small fraction of the investigated specimens, morphological and chemical inhomogeneities. Specifically, we found deviations from stoichiometry in the surface Sr content which have a subtle effect on the chemical environment of at least one other element, Ca. The different chemical environment was found to influence surface chemical reactions. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.