Microstructure and superconducting properties in air-properties GdBa 2Cu3O7-δ superconductor with the additives of nano particles

Abstract

It is regarded as an effective method to improve the flux pinning performance by the additives of the secondary phase inclusions in nano sizes into high temperature superconductor bulks. We prepared the single domain superconductor GdBa2Gi3O7-δ bulks with variable additions of (ZrO2+SnO2+ZnO) nano-particles in air by using top seed melt-textured growth process. The effect of nano-particle additions on superconductivity properties has been investigated. An enhancement of the critical current Jc in low and intermediate field at 77K and trapped field was discovered by the additions of the nano-particles. At the same time, the superconductor transition temperature, Tc, slightly decreases from 93.5K to 91.5K The microstructure measurements show that the nano-particle inclusions enhance with the increase of the content of nano-particles, which may illuminate the Jc enhancement of the specimens. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.