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Title: Enhancement of critical current density of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by self-assembly of Y2O3 nanoparticles

Abstract

YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} (YBCO) thin films, possessing high critical current density (J{sub c}), have been synthesized by embedding a homogeneous array of Y2O3 non-superconducting nanoclusters/nanoparticles using a pulsed laser deposition technique. The size, interparticle spacing, and density of Y2O3 nanoparticles in YBCO thin films were tailored by varying the number of laser pulses in order to determine the optimum size for effective immobilization of vortices. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with atomic number contrast and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to determine the size and structure of the nanoparticles. Both techniques indicate that the Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles are epitaxial with respect to the surrounding YBCO matrix. The information about pinning of vortices by the nanoparticles was obtained by investigating the behavior of critical current density as a function of temperature and applied field, which in turn determines the vortex density in the sample. The superconducting transition temperature ({Tc}) of YBCO films with the inclusion of nanoparticles was observed to remain almost the same or decrease marginally (1-2 K) with respect to Tc of pure YBCO films deposited under identical conditions. However, JcS of YBCO films embedded with self-assembled nanoparticles were found to be significantly higher than that of puremore » YBCO films. The Jc enhancement was up to five times in high magnetic field, which is a key requirement for practical application of high-{Tc} materials.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. North Carolina A&T State University
  2. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
931579
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Thin Solid Films
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 515; Journal ID: ISSN 0040-6090
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; CRITICAL CURRENT; CURRENT DENSITY; THIN FILMS; YTTRIUM OXIDES; NANOSTRUCTURES; BARIUM OXIDES; COPPER OXIDES; SYNTHESIS; LASER RADIATION; TRANSITION TEMPERATURE; HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS

Citation Formats

Vishwanathan, S., Gapud, Albert Agcaoili, Varela del Arco, Maria, Abiade, J., Christen, David K, Pennycook, Stephen J, and Kumar, Dhananjay. Enhancement of critical current density of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by self-assembly of Y2O3 nanoparticles. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2006.11.120.
Vishwanathan, S., Gapud, Albert Agcaoili, Varela del Arco, Maria, Abiade, J., Christen, David K, Pennycook, Stephen J, & Kumar, Dhananjay. Enhancement of critical current density of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by self-assembly of Y2O3 nanoparticles. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2006.11.120
Vishwanathan, S., Gapud, Albert Agcaoili, Varela del Arco, Maria, Abiade, J., Christen, David K, Pennycook, Stephen J, and Kumar, Dhananjay. 2007. "Enhancement of critical current density of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by self-assembly of Y2O3 nanoparticles". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2006.11.120.
@article{osti_931579,
title = {Enhancement of critical current density of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films by self-assembly of Y2O3 nanoparticles},
author = {Vishwanathan, S. and Gapud, Albert Agcaoili and Varela del Arco, Maria and Abiade, J. and Christen, David K and Pennycook, Stephen J and Kumar, Dhananjay},
abstractNote = {YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} (YBCO) thin films, possessing high critical current density (J{sub c}), have been synthesized by embedding a homogeneous array of Y2O3 non-superconducting nanoclusters/nanoparticles using a pulsed laser deposition technique. The size, interparticle spacing, and density of Y2O3 nanoparticles in YBCO thin films were tailored by varying the number of laser pulses in order to determine the optimum size for effective immobilization of vortices. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with atomic number contrast and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to determine the size and structure of the nanoparticles. Both techniques indicate that the Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles are epitaxial with respect to the surrounding YBCO matrix. The information about pinning of vortices by the nanoparticles was obtained by investigating the behavior of critical current density as a function of temperature and applied field, which in turn determines the vortex density in the sample. The superconducting transition temperature ({Tc}) of YBCO films with the inclusion of nanoparticles was observed to remain almost the same or decrease marginally (1-2 K) with respect to Tc of pure YBCO films deposited under identical conditions. However, JcS of YBCO films embedded with self-assembled nanoparticles were found to be significantly higher than that of pure YBCO films. The Jc enhancement was up to five times in high magnetic field, which is a key requirement for practical application of high-{Tc} materials.},
doi = {10.1016/j.tsf.2006.11.120},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/931579}, journal = {Thin Solid Films},
issn = {0040-6090},
number = ,
volume = 515,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}