Pinning behavior of Al, Mn and Ag substitutions in YBCO TSMG bulk superconductors

Abstract

Peak effect in dependences of critical current density on applied magnetic field caused by nanosize chemical pinning centers was studied in Y 1.5Ba2(Cu,M)3Oy, for M Ag, Mn, and Al with CeO2 technological addition. The behavior of Mn, Ag and Al dopants was analyzed in relation to sample microstructure and oxygenation heat treatments respectively. It is shown that formation of Cu2Mn 3Ba6Oycompound and low negative partition coefficient of Ag between the solid and melt are responsible for declination from expected pinning behavior for Mn and Ag substituents. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.