• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2017

The effects of $MgB_4$ addition on the superconducting properties and the microstructure of in situ processed $MgB_2$ bulk superconductors were studied. $MgB_4$ powder of 1-20 wt.% was mixed with (Mg + 2B) powder and then pressed into pellets. The pellets of (Mg + 2B + $xMgB_4$) were heat-treated at $650^{\circ}C$ for 1 h in flowing argon. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis for the heat-treated samples showed that the major formed phase in all samples was $MgB_2$ and the minor phases were $MgB_4$ and MgO. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values showed that the grain size of $MgB_2$ decreased as the amount of $MgB_4$ addition increased. $MgB_4$ particles included in a $MgB_2$ matrix is considered to suppress the grain growth of $MgB_2$. The onset temperatures ($T_{c,onset}$) of $MgB_2$ with $MgB_4$ addition (0-10 wt.%) was between 37-38 K. The 20 wt.% $MgB_4$ addition slightly reduced the $T_{c,onset}$ of $MgB_2$ to 36.5 K. This result indicates that $MgB_4$ addition did not influence the superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) of $MgB_2$ significantly. On the other hand, the small additions of 1-5 wt.% $MgB_4$ increased the critical current density ($J_c$) of $MgB_2$. The $J_c$ enhancement by $MgB_4$ addition is attributed not only to the grain size refinement but also to the possible flux pinning of $MgB_4$ particles dispersed in a $MgB_2$ matrix.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.344-349
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• 2015

$MgB_2$ bulk superconductors are synthesized by the solid state reaction of ($MgB_4$+xMg) precursors with excessive Mg compositions (x=1.0, 1.4, 2.0 and 2.4). The $MgB_4$ precursors are synthesized using (Mg+B) powders. The secondary phases ($MgB_4$ and MgO) present in the synthesized $MgB_4$ are removed by $HNO_3$ leaching. It is found that the formation reaction of $MgB_2$ is accelerated when Mg excessive compositions are used. The magnetization curves of $Mg_1+_xB_2$ samples show that the transition from the normal state to the superconducting state of the Mg excessive samples with x=0.5 and x=0.7 are sharper than that of $MgB_2$. The highest $J_c-B$ curve at 5 K and 20 K is achieved for x=0.5. Further addition of Mg decreases the $J_c$ owing to the formation of more pores in the $MgB_2$ matrix and smaller volume fraction of $MgB_2$.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

The effect of the size and shape of magnesium(Mg) powder on the formation of $MgB_2$ and the critical current density($J_{c,}$) of $MgB_2$ bulk was studied. As a precursor for the formation of $MgB_2$, Mg and $MgB_4$ powder, which was synthesized through the reaction of boron (B) with Mg powders, was used. $MgB_4$ was mixed with Mg powders of various sizes, pressed into pellets and heat-treated at $650^{\circ}C-750^{\circ}C$ in flowing argon gas. The XRD analysis of the heat-treated $MgB_2$ samples showed that the volume fraction of $MgB_2$ was the highest as 92.74 % when spherical Mg powder with an average size of $25.7{\mu}m$ was used, whereas the volume fraction was the lowest as 79.64 % when plate-like Mg powder with a size of $34.1{\mu}m$ was used. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) of $MgB_2$ was not sensitive to the characteristics of the Mg powders used. All of the prepared $MgB_2$ samples showed a high $T_c$ of 38.3 K and a small superconducting transition width of 0.2 K-0.5 K. $J_c$ (5 K and 1 T) of $MgB_2$ was the highest as $3.93{\times}10^4A/cm^2$ when spherical Mg powder with a size of $25.7{\mu}m$ was used, whereas $J_c$ was the lowest as $2.18{\times}10^4A/cm^2$when plate-like Mg powder with a size of $34.1{\mu}m$ was used. The relationship between the $J_c$ of $MgB_2$ and the characteristics of the Mg powders used was explained in terms of the volume fraction of $MgB_2$ and the apparent density of the $MgB_2$ pellets.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.07c
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• pp.1420-1421
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• 2006

In this study, structural and micowave dielectric properties of the $Mg_{5}B_{4}O_{15}$ (B=Ta, Nb) cation-deficient perovskite ceeramics. The specimens are prepared through the solid-state route. According to the XRD pattern, $Mg_{4}Ta_{2}O_9$ and $MgTa_{2}O_6$ phase exist in calcined and sintered $Mg_{5}Ta_{4}O_{15}$ powder. Also $Mg_{5}Ta_{4}O_{15}$ phase added with increasing sintering temperature. In the case of calcined and sintered $Mg_{5}Nb_{4}O_{15}$ powder, single phase of $Mg_{5}Nb_{4}O_{15}$ were appeared. The bulk density and quality factor of the $Mg_{5}B_{4}O_{15}$ (B=Ta, Nb) ceramics were increased with sinteming temperature in $1400^{\circ}C{\sim}1450^{\circ}C$, but these were decreased in another sintering temperature. Dielectric constant of the $Mg_{5}Ta_{4}O_{15}$ ceramics was increased continuously with increasing of sintering temperature. And the dielectric constant of the $Mg_{5}Nb_{4}O_{15}$ ceramics was increased in $1400^{\circ}C{\sim}1450^{\circ}C$ but decreased in $1475^{\circ}C$. In the case of the $Mg_{5}Ta_{4}O_{15}$ and $Mg_{5}Nb_{4}O_{15}$ ceramics sintered at $1450^{\circ}C$ for 5h, the dielectric constant, quality factor, and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (TCRF) were 8.2, 259,473 GHz, -10.91 $ppm/^{\circ}C$ and 14, 37,350 GHz, -52.3 $ppm/^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.20-23
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• 2020

Among many variables in processing the high performance MgB2 bulk superconductors, simple and important approach is to optimize the size dependence of the Mg & B raw powders. The present study is dedicated towards the variation in superconducting properties of MgB2 depending upon the various combination of Mg & B powders with the two different particle sizes respectively. From morphological investigation of the MgB2 samples, narrow and long pores are observed when the larger Mg powders are used, whereas it is rather like the oval shapes with the smaller Mg powders. Also, it can be seen that the connectivity of the MgB2 samples is much enhanced with the smaller size of the B powders. Jc-H properties of the MgB2 samples also indicate that the highest Jc can be obtained when using the smaller size of the B powder with the combination of the smaller Mg powders than that of the larger Mg powders. If the cases with the larger B powers, it is more favorable to select the larger Mg powders with the better Jc-H properties considering shorter diffusion length of Mg and more homogeneous mixture between the Mg & B powders.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.08a
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• pp.61-61
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• 2008

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.556-560
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• 2007

In this study, both structural and microwave dielectric properties of the $Mg_5B_4O_{15}$ (B=Ta, Nb) cation-deficient perovskite ceramics with sintering temperature were investigated. All sample of the $Mg_5B_4O_{15}$ (B=Ta, Nb) ceramics were prepared by the conventional mixed oxide method and sintered at $1400^{\circ}C{\sim}1500^{\circ}C$. The bulk density and quality factor of the $Mg_5B_4O_{15}$ (B=Ta, Nb) ceramics were increased with increasing sinterning temperature in the range of $1400^{\circ}C{\sim}1450^{\circ}C$, but these were decreased the sintering temperature of above $1450^{\circ}C$. The dielectric constant of the $Mg_5Ta_4O_{15}$ ceramics was increased continuously with increasing sintering temperature. And the dielectric constant of the $Mg_5Nb_4O_{15}$ ceramics was increased in as the sintering temperature increasesfrom $1400^{\circ}C{\sim}1450^{\circ}C$ but was decreased at the temperatures above $1475^{\circ}C$. In the case of the $Mg_5Ta_4O_{15}\;and\;Mg_5Nb_4O_{15}$ ceramics sintered at $1450^{\circ}C$ for 5h, the dielectric constant, quality factor, and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (TCRF) were 8.2, 259,473 GHz, $-10.91ppm/^{\circ}C$ and 14, 37,350 GHz, $-52.3ppm/^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.5-9
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• 2011

We have fabricated the superconducting $MgB_2$/carbon fiber by physical vapor deposition method. Mg (Magnesium) and B (Boron) were simultaneously deposited on the carbon fiber using the RF-sputtering and thermal evaporation, respectively. To ensure the relatively high vapor pressure of Mg at the growth region and the subsequent phase stability of $MgB_2$ at the deposition temperature, inverted funnel-like guide made of Mg-foil was employed while one side of the guide were open for the sputtered B flux. Mg vapor pressure should be controlled precisely to secure the complete reaction. The $MgB_2$/carbon fiber showed a uniformly deposited thin layer with dense and well-formed grains. The $MgB_2$/carbon fibers in this study showed $T_c$~37.5K, $J_c$ ~ $2{\times}10^4\;A/cm^2$ in the 20K, 0T.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2017

The effects of the heat treatment temperature ($600^{\circ}C-1050^{\circ}C$) on the formation of $MgB_2$ and the superconducting properties have been examined. The self-synthesized $MgB_4$ and commercial Mg powders were used as raw materials for the formation of $MgB_2$. The superconducting critical temperatures ($T_cs$) of $MgB_2$ bulk superconductors prepared at $600^{\circ}C-850^{\circ}C$ were as high as 37-38 K regardless of the heat treatment temperature. However, because $MgB_4$ is more stable than $MgB_2$ at above $850^{\circ}C$, no superconducting signals were detected in the susceptibility-temperature curves of the samples prepared above $850^{\circ}C$. As for the critical current density ($J_c$), the sample heat-treated at a low temperature ($600^{\circ}C$) for a prolonged period (40 h) showed a Jc higher than those prepared at $650^{\circ}C-850^{\circ}C$ for a short period (1 h). The FWHM (full width at half maximum) result showed that the grain size of $MgB_2$ of the $600^{\circ}C$ sample was smaller than that of the other samples. The high $J_c$ of the $600^{\circ}C$sample is attributed to the presence of large numbers of grain boundaries, which can act as flux pinning centers of $MgB_2$.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.55-58
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• 2022

Carbon-based doping to MgB₂ superconductor is the simplest approach to enhance the critical current densities under magnetic fields. Carbon quantum dots is synthesized in this work as a carbon provider to MgB₂ superconductors. Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone is pyrolyzed and dispersed in dimethylfomamide solvent as a dopant to the mixture of Mg and B powders. Doped MgB₂ bulk samples clearly show the decrease of a-axis lattice constant, grain refinements, and broadening of FWHM of diffraction peaks compared to un-doped MgB₂ possibly due to the carbon substitution and/or boron vacancy at the boron site in MgB₂ lattice. Also, high-field J_c for the doped MgB₂ is enhanced significantly with the crossover about 3 T at 5 & 20 K when increasing the doping of carbon quantum dots.