• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 2008

To achieve high transport current without degradation under magnetic field, it is essential to artificially generate the pinning sites at which moving magnetic flux can be pinned. In this work, $ZrO_2$ nanodots were formed on the substrate surface using electro-spray deposition method. On top of the nanodots, the extended and effective pinning centers can be created. The positively charged Zr precursor solution was sprayed out from the needle using the corona discharge phenomena. Then, the sprayed precursor was deposited onto the negatively charged substrate surface followed by the heat treatment under the controlled atmosphere. Using the electrostatic force among the charged particles of precursor, evenly distributed and nano-sized dots were formed on the substrate surface. The size and density of the nanodots were studied by Atomic Force Microscopy. Also discussed are the effect of the deposition time and solution concentration on the size and density of the nanodot and processing variables in electro-spray method for the effective flux pinning centers in the superconducting films.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• v.11
• /
• pp.12-12
• /
• 2001

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2013

We investigated the flux pinning properties of both 10 mol% Zr-and Sn-doped $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ (YBCO) films with the same thickness of ~350 nm for a comparative purpose. The films were prepared on the $SrTiO_3$ (STO) single crystal substrate by the metal-organic deposition (MOD) process. Compared with Sn-doped YBCO film, Zr-doped one exhibited a significant enhancement in the critical current density ($J_c$) and pinning force density ($F_p$). The anisotropic $J_{c,min}/J_{c,max}$ ratio in the field-angle dependence of $J_c$ at 77 K for 1 T was also improved from 0.23 for Sn-doped YBCO to 0.39 for Zr-doped YBCO. Thus, the highest magnetic $J_c$ values of 9.0 and $2.9MA/cm^2$ with the maximum $F_p$ ($F_{p,max}$) values of 19 and $5GN/m^3$ at 65 and 77 K for H // c, respectively, could be achieved from Zr-doped YBCO film. The stronger pinning effect in Zr-doped YBCO film is attributable to smaller $BaZrO_3$ (BZO) nanoparticles (the average size ${\approx}28.4$ nm) than $YBa_2SnO_{5.5}$ (YBSO) nanoparticles (the average size ${\approx}45.0$ nm) incorporated in Sn-doped YBCO film since smaller nanoparticles can generate more defects acting as effective flux pinning sites due to larger incoherent interfacial area for the same doping concentration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.374-374
• /
• 2009

We have fabricated pure YBCO films and $BaZrO_3$ doped ones on $CeO_2$ buffered YSZ single crystal substrates using rf-sputtering method. In this work, pure YBCO and 2 vol% BZO doped YBCO target were used to investigate the flux pinning properties of BZO doped YBCO films compared to undoped ones. BZO nanodots within the superconducting materials was known to comprise the self-assembled columnar defects along the c-axis from the bottom of YBCO films up to the top surface, thus can be a very strong pinning sites in the applied magnetic field parallel to them. We will discuss the possibility of growing self-assembled columnar defects in the rf-sputtering method. It is speculated that BZO and YBCO phases can separate and BZO form nanodots surrounded by YBCO epitaxial layers and continuous phase separation and ordering between these two materials, which was well studied in Pulsed Laser Deposition method. For this purpose, some severe experimental conditions such as on-axis sputtering, shorter target-substrate distance, high rf-power, etc was adopted and their results will be presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2002

Recent development in the field of RE-Ba-Cu-O (REBCO, RE: Y or rare earth elements) bulk high-Tc superconductors (HTS) is reviewed in the present paper. After the fatal weak link problem of sintered REBCO superconductors has been overcome by melt processing, this field has been greatly advanced during last ten years. The critical current density $J_c$ at 77 K has been enhanced by introducing effective flux pinning sites into the $REBa_2Cu_3O_y$ (RE123) superconducting matrix. Large melt-textured REBCO bulk crystals have been fabricated with the TSMG(top-seeded melt growth) technique. Mechanical properties of REBCO bulks have been improved by using the Ag additive or epoxy resin. Real bulk applications such as current lead, fault current limiter, flywheel energy storage system, magnetic field source, magnetic separation system, and etc., surely come true near future.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• v.10
• /
• pp.262-267
• /
• 2000

To tap the possibility of exploiting the precipitates as flux-pinning center in the Bi-2223 superconducting system, as-received Bi-2223/Ag tapes with the starting composition of Bi$_{1.8}$Pb$_{0.4}$Sr$_2$Ca$_{2.2}$Cu$_3$O$_8$ were post-annealed at various temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and annealing time. The 2$^{nd}$ phases in the annealed specimen were analysed with XRD, SEM, TEM, and EDS. The size and the distribution of the precipitates such as (Ca,Sr)$_2$(Pb,Bi)O$_4$ and Bi$_{0.5}$Pb$_3$Sr$_2$Ca$_2$CuO$_{12+{\delta}}$ (3221) in the Bi-2223 matrix was controllable by varying heat-treatment condition without breaking the connectivity of the 2223 grains. The nano-size precipitates within the 2223 grains are conjectured as working as flux-pinning sites, resulting in increased J$_c$ value.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.6-8
• /
• 2008

$Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots have been deposited on top of the substrate surface using rf-sputtering method. This approach was adopted to be able to modulate the substrate surface with nanodots used as a seed for the flux pinning sites in the superconducting films. The nanodot density of $Y_{2}O_{3}$ was controlled mainly using the deposition time, rf-power, and substrate temperature. $Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots with ${\sim}\;50\;nm$ in diameter and ${\sim}\;3\;nm$ in height were obtained at rf-sputtering time of about 15 seconds using 400 watts of rf-power and $630^{\circ}C$ of substrate temperature. As deposition time increased up to about 30 seconds, the interconnected islands of $Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots formed, which can be clearly observed with AFM surface image. The substrate surface was covered entirely with $Y_{2}O_{3}$ layer above the deposition time of 60 seconds. The modulated surface morphologies and cross section analysis of deposited $Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots at various experimental conditions have been examined using AFM and discussed with respect to the flux pinning sites for the practical application.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.5-8
• /
• 2009

MgO nanodots have been deposited and formed on top of the substrate surface. Mg was sputtered to form the MgO nanodots on the single crystal substrates by rf-sputtering method and followed by heat treatment in the oxygen ambient. The deposition and formation of MgO nanodots have been controlled systematically using the process variables such as substrate temperature, sputtering time, and rf-power. As the substrate temperature increased from the room temperature the density of MgO nanodots decreased. The optimal conditions of MgO nanodots formation using the rf-sputtering was investigated and the maximum density of more than $230/{\mu}m^2$ on single crystal substrates was obtained when the rf-power of 100 watts was applied for 30 seconds at room temperature. The typical size of MgO nanodots was identified to be <160 nm(diameter) and 4-30nm (height) by atomic force microscopy. The modulated surface morphology was examined through surface images and cross-section analysis and discussed for the artificial pinning sites in the superconducting films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.362-362
• /
• 2009

$MgB_2$ bulk samples were sintered at different ambient. In this work, high purity Ar gas was added with oxygen and hydrogen gas, which can be regarded as impurity in a sense, as a possible dopant in the $MgB_2$. It was found that oxygen in the sintering ambient leads to a decrease in the critical current density $J_c$ at self field and lower fields. However, we can obtained higher $J_c$ at higher fields. It was also noted that $MgB_2$ samples sintered with 5% hydrogen in Ar revealed the increased $J_c$ at all fields compared to those processed in pure Ar ambient. From the XRD and FESEM analysis, the impurity gas in Ar can refine the $MgB_2$ grain size and result in increased grain. boundary, which can act as a strong flux pinning sites in $MgB_2$ samples. Also discussed are the effects of sintering ambient on irreversibility field, $H_{irr}$ and the upper critical field, $H_{C2}$.

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