Control of nanostructure and pinning properties in solution deposited YBa2Cu3O7−x nanocomposites with preformed perovskite nanoparticles

Abstract

Solution deposited YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−x (YBCO) nanocomposites with preformed nanoparticles represent a promising cost-effective approach for superior critical current properties under applied magnetic fields. Nonetheless, the majority of YBCO nanocomposites with high nanoparticle loads (>20%) suffer from nanoparticle coalescence and degraded superconducting properties. Here, we study the influence of nanoparticle concentration (0–25% mol), size (5 nm–10 nm) and composition (BaHfO 3 , BaZrO 3 ) on the generation of structural defects in the epitaxial YBCO matrix, key parameter for vortex pinning. We demonstrate that flash-heated superconducting nanocomposites with 20 mol% preformed BaHfO 3 or BaZrO 3 perovskite secondary phases feature discrete and small (7 nm) nanoparticles and high density of YBa 2 Cu 4 O 8 (Y248) intergrowths. We identify a synergy between Y248 intergrowth density and small nanoparticles to increase artificial vortex pinning centers. Also, we validate the multideposition process to successfully increase film thickness of epitaxial nanocomposites with competitive critical currents I c at 77 K.

Hybrid approach to obtain high-quality BaMO3 perovskite nanocrystals

“…The present work conducted by our group showed the possibility to combine BaZrO 3 and BaHfO 3 NCs with YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO) type II superconductors, to enhance the superconducting properties, unravelling a novel pathway in electronic materials science and bestowing a crucial breakthrough for the implementation of NCs to act as pinning centres. [30][31][32] Thus, we present here a novel hybrid method (i.e., built from the classical approaches) to produce high-quality perovskite NCs and enhance the current applicability portfolio.…”

Pinning analyses of a BaHfO3-containing GdBa2Cu3O7‐δ thin film grown by chemical solution deposition

“…It is also clear that a high density of intergrowths, called stacking faults (SFs) or Gd 2 Ba 4 Cu 8 O 16 intergrowths and composed by double Cu-O planes, is observed in the upper region of the film. This tendency is quite common for CSD-grown REBCO films [19]. A more detailed view of the BHO NPs (fig.…”

Low-Fluorine Ba-Deficient Solutions for High-Performance Superconducting YBCO Films

“…Further analysis of angular Jc dependences in conjunction with an advanced TEM microstructural analysis should be performed in order to elucidate the nature of pinning centers. However, considering the results obtained in other CSD films and nanocomposites studied, an enhancement of µ0H* and isotropic strong pinning contribution can be correlated with the presence of stacking faults and associated nanostrain [29,30,45,46]. Figure 7b shows the µ 0 H* values obtained for the different films as a function of T g .…”

“…The growth processes were carried out through two different methods: conventional thermal annealing (CTA) [27] and flash heating (FH) [28][29][30]. The idea was to study the influence of the heating ramp in the pinning landscape originating within the films and, therefore, in the final superconducting properties.…”