Infiltration and top seeded grown mono-domain YBa₂Cu₃O_7 xbulk superconductor

Abstract

An infiltration and top seed growth method (ITSG), has been successfully used to grow a single grain of YBa2Cu3O7−x (Y123) bulk material. The nucleation of Y123 grain is controlled by seeding the Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) preform with a Sm123 or MgO seed crystal. Various configurations influencing the liquid infiltration such as that due to capillarity or gravitational force have been studied. The resulting mono-domain Y123 samples are found to be free of macrocracks, a negligible shrinkage and a microstructure with uniformly distributed fine Y211 particles. The superconducting properties of the final Y123/Y211 samples are discussed.

Infiltration and Top Seed Growth‐Textured YBCO Bulks With Multiple Holes

“…Optical micrographs of polished surfaces (Fig. 3) of the samples reveal the typical microstructural features known 13 from melt‐processed bulk materials. In the present ITSG process, no specific efforts like doping 17,18 or irradiation 19 have been made to optimize the Y211 particle size and defect density in further improving the critical current densities.…”

“…In the present ITSG process, no specific efforts like doping 17,18 or irradiation 19 have been made to optimize the Y211 particle size and defect density in further improving the critical current densities. The average size of Y211 particles is determined at 1 μm for the ITSG samples compared with 2.4 μm for conventional TSMTG 13 ones. Moreover, a uniform distribution of Y211 inclusions could be seen in the ITSG microstructure.…”

Superconducting materials by design: Bulk with artificial thin walls as cryo-magnets

“…The homogeneous distribution of Y211 inclusions in the infiltration-process can be explained as due to the small Y211 particles in starting Y211 pre-form. In this process, the Y211 particles are further dissolved in the liquid phase to form Y123 phase resulting in finer spherical 211 particles, in contrast to larger acicular size Y211 and their inhomogeneous distribution in the sample processed conventionally without any dopants [14]. The Y123 foam was analyzed using XRD to check the grain alignment and the final sample composition.…”

Comparison of Y<sub>2</sub>Ba<sub>4</sub>CuBiOy Nanoparticles with CeO<sub>2</sub> Doping on the Levitation Force of Single Domain YBCO Bulk Superconductor by TSIG Process

“…However, conventional melt processes based on the peritectic reaction have some frequent problems, such as existence of defect, the loss of liquid during peritectic decomposition, distortion, and shrinkage of the final samples. In order to solve these problems, a new technique based on the top-seeded infiltration and growth process (TSIG) has been developed by various laboratories in recent years [4]- [9]. Furthermore, the particles of Y 2 BaCuO 5 (Y211) are an effective flux pinning center for single domain YBCO bulk superconductors, but the particle size is a little larger, from several micrometers to more than ten micrometer range.…”