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Title: Nanostructured high-temperature superconductors: Creation of strong-pinning columnar defects in nanorod/superconductor composites

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Research
;  [1]
  1. Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Department of Chemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (United States)

A chemical approach to the formation of columnar defects involving the growth and incorporation of MgO nanorods into high temperature superconductors (HTS{close_quote}s) has been developed. MgO nanorods were incorporated into Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub z}, Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub z}, and Tl{sub 2}Ba{sub 2}Ca{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub z} superconductors at areal densities up to 2{times}10{sup 10}/cm{sup 2}. Microstructural analyses of the composites demonstrate that the MgO nanorods create a columnar defect structure in the HTS matrices, form a compositionally sharp interface with the matrix, and self-organize into orientations perpendicular and parallel to the copper oxide planes. Measurements of the critical current density demonstrate significant enhancements in the MgO nanorod/HTS composites at elevated temperatures and magnetic fields compared with reference samples. {copyright} {ital 1997 Materials Research Society.}

OSTI ID:
565728
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Research, Vol. 12, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English