• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2009

For many large-scale applications of high-temperature superconducting materials, large critical current density ($J_c$) in high applied magnetic fields are required. A number of methods have been reported to introduce artificial pinning centers in $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ films for enhancement of their $J_c$. We studied the microstructures and characteristic of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ films fabricated on $SrTiO_3$ (100) substrates with ZnO nanorods as pinning centers. Au catalyst nanoparticles were synthesized on STO substrates with self assembled monolayer to control the number of ZnO nanorods. The density of Au nanoparticles is approximately $240{\sim}260{\mu}m^{-2}$ with diameters of $41{\sim}49nm$. ZnO nanorods were grown on STO by hot-walled PLD with Au nanoparticles. Typical size of ZnO nanorod was around 179 nm in diameter and $2{\sim}6{\mu}m$ in length respectively. YBCO films deposited directly on STO substrates show the c-axis orientation, while YBCO films with ZnO nanorods exhibit any mixed phases without any typical crystal orientation.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.41-45
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• 2018

We have investigated the effect of $Y_2O_3$ nanoparticles on the pinning properties of $Y_2O_3$-doped $GdBa_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}$ (GdBCO) films. Both undoped and $Y_2O_3$-doped GdBCO films were grown on $CeO_2$-buffered MgO (100) single crystal substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using KrF (${\lambda}=248nm$) laser. The $Y_2O_3$ doping contents were controlled up to ~ 2.5 area% by varying the internal angles of $Y_2O_3$ sectors put on the top surface of GdBCO target. Compared with the $Gd_2O_3$-doped GdBCO films previously reported by our group [1], the $Y_2O_3$-doped GdBCO films exhibited less severe critical temperature ($T_c$) drop and thus slightly enhanced critical current densities ($J_c$) and pinning force densities ($F_p$) at 65 K for the applied field parallel to the c-axis of the GdBCO matrix (B//c) with increasing the doping content. Below 40 K, the in-field $J_c$ and $F_p$ values of all $Y_2O_3$-doped GdBCO films exhibited higher than those of undoped GdBCO film, suggesting that $Y_2O_3$ inclusions might act as effective pinning centers.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.438-441
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• 2021

The electrical characteristics of single-crystal composite superconductors produced by a melting process were studied by neutron irradiation. In order to improve the current characteristics of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductor, it is necessary to form an effective flux pinning center inside the superconductor. In this study, an increase in flux pinning was attempted through neutron irradiation onto YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductors. The neutron irradiation was performed at 30 MeV for 500 sec, The electrical properties of the superconductors were measured in a magnetic field of 5 Tesla at 50 K using a magnetic properties measurement system (MPMS). After neutron irradiation, the critical current density of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductor in a 1 Tesla magnetic field was 1×10⁵ A/cm². Once neutrons were irradiated at 30 MeV and 10 μA for 500 sec, the critical current density was observed to increase significantly. When neutrons are irradiated to a superconductor, micro-defects are created in the superconductor, and they act as flux pinning centers that hold the magnetic field generated when an electric current flows.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.6-10
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• 2003

Silver nano-powder was added to Ma $B_2$ to make (Ag)$_{(x)wt.%}$(Mg $B_2$)$_{(l00-x)wt.%}$ (A $g_{x}$-Mg $B_2$) (10 $\leq$ x $\leq$ 50) composite superconductors to investigate the effect of the Ag nano-powder on the vortex pinning. Pellets made out of the mixed powder were put inside stainless steel tubes, which were sintered at 85$0^{\circ}C$ in Ar atmosphere. No impurity phase was identified for as-rolled samples. However, both the Mg $B_2$ and the A $g_{x}$-Mg $B_2$ composite pellets, when sintered, contain small amount of Mg $B_4$ and MgAg impurity phases. From the magnetization study, it was found that the flux pinning was improved in the high magnetic field region (> 3 T) only when 10w/o Ag was added to Mg $B_2$. The "two step" structures in ZFC M(T) curve gradually increased as the amount of Ag added increased. Pinning centers can be created by adding a suitable amount of Ag nano-powder which is not too large to increase the decoupling between the Mg $B_2$ grains.crease the decoupling between the Mg $B_2$ grains.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.169-169
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• 2012

The high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) have attached attentions because of a high superconducting transition temperature, low surface resistance, high superconducting critical current density (Jc), and superior superconducting capability under magnetic field. Moreover, the Jc of YBCO superconductors can be enhanced by adding impurities to the YBCO films for vortex-pinning. Understanding and controlling pinning centers are key factors to realize high Jc superconductors. We synthesized vertically-aligned ZnO nanorods on SrTiO3 (STO) substrates by catalyst-free metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and subsequently, deposited YBCO films on the ZnO nanorods/STO templates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The various techniques were used to analyze the structural and interfacial properties of the YBCO/ZnO nanorods/STO hybrid structures. SEM, TEM, and XRD measurements demonstrated that YBCO films on ZnO nanorods/STO were well crystallized with the (001) orientation. EXAFS measurements from YBCO/ZnO nanorods/STO at Cu K edge demonstrated that the local structural properties around Cu atoms in YBCO were quite similar to those of YBCO/STO.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2012

The effect of graphene inclusion in the ex-situ $MgB_2$ was analyzed with the help of resistivity behavior and critical current density studies. Amount of graphene was systematically varied from 0% for pristine sample to 3% by the weight of $MgB_2$. Graphene that is considered as a good source of carbon was found to be intact without any significant carbon doping in $MgB_2$ structure as reveled by XRD measurements. There was no signature of graphene inclusion as far as the superconducting transition is concerned which remained same at 39 K for all the samples. The transition width being sensitive to defect doping remained more or less about 2 K for all the samples showing no variation due to doping. Although there was no change in the superconducting transition or transition width, the graphene doped sample showed noticeable decrease in the overall resistivity behavior with respect to decrease in temperature. The graphene inclusion acted as effective pinning centers which have enhanced the upper critical field of these samples.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.7-11
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• 2010

For many large-scale applications of high-temperature superconducting materials, large critical current density($J_c$) in high applied magnetic fields are required. A number of methods have been reported to introduce artificial pinning centers(APCs) in $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$(YBCO) films for enhancement of their $J_c$. In this work, we investigated electric characteristic of YBCO films on $SrTiO_3$ (100) substrates whose surfaces were modified by the introduction of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Au nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on STO substrates with one of typical solution techniques, self assembled monolayer. After heating the STO substrates with Au nanoparticles, the size of Au nanoparticles was around 29~32 nm in height and 41~49 nm in diameter. XRD diffraction patterns taken on the YBCO film with Au nanoparticles show the c-axis orientation. The measured $T_c$ of YBCO /AuNPs films was around 89K and the $J_c$ was 0.75 MA/$cm^2$ at 65 K and 1 T.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
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• v.9
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• pp.300-304
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• 1999

To tap the feasibility of exploiting the 2$^{nd}$ phases as flux-pinning centers in the (Bi,Pb)$_2Sr_2Ca_2CuO_{10}$ superconductor, the size and the distribution of the precipitates have been controlled by changing reaction temperature and time, oxygen partial pressure Po$_2$ and annealing condition. Various annealing heat treatments were also conducted on the as-received 61 filament Bi-2223 tapes with Bi$_{1.8}Pb_{0.4}Sr_2Ca_{2.2}Cu_3O_8$ starting composition and annealed specimen were analyzed with XRD, SEM, EDS and TEM.. The grain size of (Ca,Sr)$_2$(BiPb)O$_4$ or Bi$_{0.5}Pb_3Sr_2Ca_2CuO_{\delta}$ was controllable by optimizing the heat treatment condition and critical current density (J$_c$) showed dependence on the size of the 2$^{nd}$ phases.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2013

We report processing technique in the MO image measurement system. Calibration procedure is not only considered to perpendicular field but also in-plane field. Current density and field profiles are obtained by Biot-savart law and inversion method. We show example of $(Gd,Y)_1Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-{\delta}}-BaZrO_3$ film that have tilted nano rod pinning centers about $13^{\circ}$ from the c-axis.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.339-341
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• 2012

The high Tc superconductor of YBCO system with the nominal composition of precursor was prepared from mixed powders of $Y_2O_3$, $BaCO_3$, CuO and $TiO_2$ by the thermal pyrolysis method. The effect of $TiO_2$ doping to Y based ceramics superconductors fabricated by the thermal pyrolysis reaction, to investigate the effect of the dopant on the superconductivity. The voltage appearing across the field-cooled HTS sample increased with external magnetic field. The improvement of critical current property as well as the mechanical property is important for the application. The improvement of the critical current can be achieved by forming the nano size defect working as a flux pining center inside the superconductor. We simply added $TiO_2$ to starting materials to dope $TiO_2$ and observed an increase in the trapped field and the critical current density up to at least 5 wt % $TiO_2$. The $TiO_2$ was converted to fine $BaTiO_3$ particles which were trapped in YBCO matrix during the sintering process. We observed a peak effect of Jc that can be attributed to $TiO_2$ doping and results suggest that introducing a proper amount of pinning centers can significantly enhance current density.