Effect of Processing Parameters on the Morphology, Particulate, and Superconducting Properties of Electrospun YBCO Nanostructures

Abstract

Superconductivity in nanostructured ceramics offers significant advantages over the conventional coarse-grained materials in view of miniaturization of superconducting electronic devices. In this paper, we report the formation of four morphologies of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) nanostructures by electrospinning technique using polymeric polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) solutions of different molecular weight and altering the total content of the metallic precursors. The morphologies prepared using this strategy are nanorods (NRs), nanogarlands (NGs), nanohierarchical (NH), and nanoparticles (NPs). Alternating current susceptibility measurements showed high critical temperatures (TC ~90 K) for the NH YBCO synthesized using PVP of the lowest molecular weight; whereas the YBCO NRs synthesized using a higher molecular weight polymer showed the lowest TC (82 K). A relationship between the particulate properties and TC was also observed – the lower is the pore size the higher is the TC. The YBCO NGs showed the highest specific surface area (7.06 m2/g) with intermediate TC (88 K). Electrospinning process appears an effective and controllable technique to produce different nanomorphologies with intrinsic properties suitable for practical applications.

Progress of superconducting nanofibers via electrospinning

“…In addition, the nanohierarchical sample was synthesized with low molecular weight PVP had a T C of about 90 K, while the nanogarlands sample was synthesized with high molecular weight PVP had a T C of about 82 K. The nanogarlands sample had a T C of about 88 K and showed a high specific surface area of 7.06 m 2 g −1 . With reference to this work, we can specifically prepare superconducting materials with special structures to obtain targeted properties [80].…”

“…In addition to organic nanofiers, it is also worth mentioning that electrospinning can be used to prepare various inorganic, such as magnetic nanofibers and conductive nanofibers like cobalt-doped nickel nanofibers, Fe/C composite nanofibers [74,75], CuO nanofibers, Co 3 O 4 /C composite nanofibers, and some other carbon nanofiber-based nanomaterials [76][77][78][79]. In particular, electrospinning has been proven to be highly reliable and efficient when used to prepare inorganic superconducting nanofibers, such as yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO), bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide (BSCCO), and other cuprate superconductors [80,81].…”

Preparation and Peculiar Magnetic Properties at Low Temperatures of La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 Nanofibers

“…Electrospinning, owing to its high efficiency, convenience, and excellent reproducibility, has emerged as one of the simplest and most viable methods for the production of superconducting nanofibers [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The cuprate superconducting nanofibers reported herein are prepared via electrospinning [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], followed by calcination, and the fiber morphology showed a uniform grain distribution, which increased the limit of cuprate to the nanometer level [ 16 , 20 , 21 ].…”

“…Low-energy neutron scattering studies reveal a robust correlation between the transition temperature (T c ) and antiferromagnetic fluctuations within a certain doping range, underscoring the intricate interplay between them [ 24 ]. Generally, in La 2−x Sr x CuO 4 , with the doping of impurities, the carrier concentration increases continuously and copper oxide undergoes an insulator–superconductor–normal metal transition; the optimal superconductor doped region is observed when x = 0.15 [ 25 ].…”