• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2011

$(YSmNd)_{1.8}Ba_{2.4}Cu_{3.4}O_{7-x}$ [(YSN)1.8] high $T_c$ superconductor was directionally grown by zone melt growth process, in air atmosphere. In this study, optimum melting temperature and growth rate were $1100^{\circ}C$ and 3.5 mm/hr, respectively. The microstructure of well-textured (YSN)1.8 samples were examined by XRD, optical microscopy, TEM and SQUID magnetometer. The critical current density of these samples were measured by the direct transporting current method. In the observation using an optical microscopy, nonsuperconducting $(YSmNd)_2BaCuO_5$[(YSN)211] inclusions of (YSN)1.8 superconductor uniformly distributed within the superconducting (YSmNd)$Ba_2Cu_3O_x$[(YSN)123] matrix. The directionally melt-textured (YSN)1.8 superconductor showed an onset $T_c{\geq}90\;K$ and sharp superconducting transition. The transport $J_c$ values were 830 A and $3.93{\times}10^4$ (A/$cm^2$) at 77 K self-field, respectively.