• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.42-45
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• 2003

The phase transformation of $REBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ (RE=Nd, Gd, Dy) was investigated using isothermal heat-treatment and continuous cooling in air. During continuous cooling, the $REBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ (RE=123) superconducting phase with well-distributed $REBa_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ (RE-211) was obtainde at a cooling rate of $0.001^{\circ}C$/s. Single phase RE-123 (Nd, Gd, Dy) was stable at $1050^{\circ}C$, $1050^{\circ}C$, and $950^{\circ}C$ during isothermal heat-treatment, respectively. Above these temperatures the RE-211 phase existed within the RE-123 grains. The RE-123, RE-211, $BaCu_2Od_2$, and CuO phases coexisted at $50^{\circ}C$ below the partial melting temperature for each respective rare-earth RE-123.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.346-350
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• 2002

The effect of Ca-doping on the superconducting properties of Nd-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors, fabricated by the oxygen-controlled melt growth process, has been systematically investigated. Various c-axis textured bulk samples were grown using precursors with the nominal compositions of N $d_{1.8-x}$C $a_{x}$B $a_{2.4}$C $u_{3.4}$ $O_{y}$ (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) in a reduced oxygen atmosphere of 1% $O_2$ in Ar. Magnetization measurements revealed that the critical temperatures( $T_{c}$) were almost linearly depressed from 95K to 86K with increasing the Ca dopant from x = 0.0 to 0.15, respectively, and thus critical current densities( $J_{c}$) at 77K and for H//c-axis of specimens were gradually degraded with increasing x. Compositional analyses revealed that although the amounts of the Ca dopant both in NdB $a_2$C $u_3$ $O_{y}$(Nd123) and N $d_4$B $a_2$C $u_2$ $O_{10}$(Nd422) were increased with increasing x, only less than half of the initial Ca compositions were detected in melt-grown Ca-doped Nd-Ba-Cu-O bulk crystals. The supression of $T_{c}$ is attributed to an increased Nd substitution for the Ba site in the Nd123 superconducting matrix with increasing the amount of the Ca dopant.t.opant.t.t.t.t.t.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2003

RE(Nd, Sm) elements doped (RE/Y)$_{1.8}$B $a_{2.4}$C $u_{3.4}$$O_{7-x}$ [(RE/Y)1.8] high $T_{c}$ superconductors were directionally grown by Top Seed Melt Growth(TSMG) process in air atmosphere. The (001)melt-textured N $d_{1.8}$B $a_{2.4}$C $u_{3.4}$ $O_{7-X}$(Nd1.8) seed crystals were used for achieving the c-axis alignment large grains perpendicular to surface of the samples. The (RE/Y)1.8 SEM micrographs of the melt-textured (RE/Y)1.8 samples revealed that the nonsuperconducting (RE/Y)211 inclusions are uniformly distributed in the superconducting (RE/Y)123 matrix except the region very close to the Nd seed crystal. The microstructure and superconducting properties were investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM and SQUID magnetometer. The Melt-textured (RE/Y)1.8 samples showed an onset $T_{c}$=91K and sharp superconducting transition. Also, the magnetization value of the (RE/Y)1.8 samples were compared with those of Y1.8 sample at 77 K. 77 K. 77 K. 77 K.K.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2009

The $Nd_{1+x}Ba_{2-x}Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$(Nd123) superconductor exhibits high performance in high magnetic field and high temperature. We have studied phase stability for Nd123 under reduced oxygen partial pressure and various heat-treatment conditions. The main phase is Nd123 and some samples contain small amounts of Nd422 depending on the temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The decomposition temperature decreases with decreasing oxygen partial pressure from $1052^{\circ}C(P(O_2)$=150 Torr) to about $845^{\circ}C(P(O_2)$=0.1 Torr). The liquidus line was steeper temperature with decreasing oxygen partial pressure. In same condition of oxygen partial pressure, the region of stable Nd123 phase was formed at slightly higher temperature than the region of stable YBCO phase.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2003

(Sm/Y)$_{1.8}$B $a_{2.4}$C $u_{3.4}$$O_{7-x}$ [(Sm/Y)1.8] high $T_{c}$ superconductors were directionally grown by Rod-type Seed Melt Growth(RSMG) process in air atmosphere. The sintered polycrystalline N $d_{1.8}$B $a_{2.4}$C $u_{3.4}$$O_{7-x}$(Nd1.8) of rod-type seed crystal grown by extrusion mold process were used for achieving the ab-plane alignment haying large grains perpendicular to the center of (Sm/Y)1.8 samples. The observations using TEM micrographs of the melt-textured (Sm/Y)1.8 samples revealed that the nonsuperconducting (Sm/Y)211 inclusions are uniformly distributed in the superconducting (Sm/Y)123 matrix. The microstructure and superconducting properties were investigated by XRD, TEM and SQUID magnetometer. The RSMG (Sm/Y)1.8 samples showed an onset $T_{c}$ $\geq$ 90 K and sharp superconducting transition.nsition.ion.nsition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.3-3
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• 2009

In order to investigate the possibility of using mixed rare earth $(Nd_{1/3}Eu_{1/3}Gd_{1/3})Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-x}$ (NEG123) as the superconducting layer of the HTS coated conductor, the NEG123 thin film was deposited epitaxialy on LAO(100) single crystal and IBAD_YSZ metal templates by pulsed laser deposition. Systematic studies were carried out to investigate the influences of deposition parameters of PLD on the micro structure, texture and superconducting properties of NEG-123 coated conductor. Deposition at oxygen partial pressure of 600 mTorr was needed to routinely obtain high quality NEG123 films with $J_c$'s (77K) over 2 MA/$cm^2$ and Tc's over 90K (${\Delta}T{\sim}2\;K$). We verified from magnetization study that the NEG123 has an improved in-field Jc as the field increases at temperatures between 10 K and 77 K compared with Gd123. The $J_c$ (77K, self field) and the value of onset $T_c$ of NEG123 thin film on LAO substrate was $4.0MA/cm^2$ and 92K, respectively. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of coated conductors with NEG123 film as the superconducting layer which have Ic and Jc over 40 A/cm-width and 1.6 MA/$cm^2$ at 77K, self field. This study shows the possibility of using NEG123 film as the superconducting layer of the HTS coated conductor which can be used in high magnetic field power electric devices.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.569-574
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• 2012

Large single grain $Gd_{1.5}Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Gd1.5) bulk superconductors were fabricated by a top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) process using an $NdBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ seed. The seeded Gd1.5 powder compacts with a diameter of 50 mm were subjected to the heating cycles of a TSMG process. After the TSMG process, the diameter of the single grain Gd1.5 compact was reduced to 43 mm owing to the volume contraction during the heat treatment. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) of the top surface of the single grain Gd1.5 sample was as high as 93.5 K. The critical current densities ($J_cs$) at 77 K and 1T and 1.5 T were in ranges of 25,200-43,900 $A/cm^2$ and 10,000-23,000 $A/cm^2$, respectively. The maximum attractive force at 77 K of the sample field-cooled using an Nd-B-Fe permanent magnet (surface magnetic field of 0. 527 T) was 108.3 N; the maximum repulsive force of the zero field-cooled sample was 262 N. The magnetic flux density of the sample field-cooled at 77 K was 0.311T, which is approximately 85% of the applied magnetic field of 0.375 T. Microstructure investigation showed that many $Gd_2BaCuO_5$ (Gd211) particles of a few ${\mu}m$ in size, which are flux pinning sites of Gd123, were trapped within the $GdBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Gd123) grain; unreacted $Ba_3Cu_5O_8$ liquid and Gd211 particles were present near the edge regions of the single grain Gd1.5 bulk compact.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2012

The fabrications condition and superconducting properties of top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) processed $GdBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Gd123) bulk superconductors were studied. Processing parameters (a maximum temperature ($T_{max}$), a temperature for crystal growth ($T_G$) and a cooling rate ($R_G$) through a peritectic temperature ($T_P$) for the fabrication of single grain Gd123 superconductors were optimized. The magnetic levitation forces, trapped magnetic fields, superconducting transition temperature ($T_c$) and critical current density ($J_c$) of the Gd123 bulks superconductors were estimated. Single grain Gd123 bulk superconductors were successfully fabricated at the optimized processing condition. The $T_c$ of a TSMG processed Gd123 sample was 92.5 K and the $J_c$ at 77 K and 0 T was approximately $50kA/cm^2$. The trapped magnetic field contour and magnetic levitation forces were dependent on the top surface morphology of TSMG processed Gd123 samples. The single grain Gd123 samples, field-cooled at 77 K using a Nd-B-Fe permanent magnet with 5.27 kG and 30 mm dia., showed the trapped magnetic field contour of a single grain with a maximum of 4 kG at the sample center. The maximum magnetic levitation forces of the single grain Gd123 sample, field-cooled or zero field-cooled, were 40 N and 107 N, respectively.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2011

To reduce the processing cost of the single grain REBCO (RE: Rare-earth elements) bulk superconductors, a cost-effective process should be developed. One possible way of developing the cost-effective process is the use of low-cost precursor powders. In this study, the single grain YBCO superconductors were fabricated using a home made powder. $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Y123) powders were synthesized at $850-900^{\circ}C$ in air by the powder calcination method with repeated crushing and heat treatment steps. The processing parameters for the fabrication of single grain Y123 bulk superconductors, $T_{max}$ (maximum temperature), $T_p$ (peritectic temperature) and a cooling rate through $T_p$ were optimized. To enhance the flux pinning capacity of the single grain Y123 samples, $Y_2BaCuO_5$ (Y211) particles were dispersed in the Y123 matrix by adding $Y_2O_3$ powder to the calcined Y123 powder. Applying the optimized processing condition, the single grain Y123 superconductors with $T_c=91\;K$ and $J_c=1.5{\times}10^4\;A/cm^2$ at 2 T were successfully fabricated using a home made powder. The levitation forces and trapped magnetic field at 77 K measured using a Nd-B-Fe permanent magnet of 5300 G were 47 N and 3000 G, respectively, which are comparable to those obtained for the samples fabricated using a commercial grade Y123 powders.