Fabrication of thin films of multi-cation oxides (YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ) starting from nanoparticles of mixed ions

Abstract

A new route, starting from nanoparticles of mixed ions, has been used to synthesize high-quality thin films of a complex perovskite (YBa2Cu3O7−δ, YBCO). Currently, the most promising approach for making YBCO films uses metal trifluoroacetates. In comparison, the present method using a colloidal dispersion of nanoparticles is seen to produce crystalline, well textured films at much faster heating rates and having much lower porosity. Whereas there is scope for further optimization, this effort has rapidly yielded superconducting films with transition temperature of 89.5 K and self-field critical current density up to 2.4 MA cm−2 at 77 K.

The Influence of CuO Dopant Nanoparticles, Prepared via the Arc Plasma Synthesis Method, on the Critical Current of YBa2Cu3O7 –δ Composites

“…In accordance with the results, adding non-superconducting CuO nanoparticles with sizes up to 10 nm in the amount of 2%, homogeneously dispersed in the matrix, enhances the pinning of the magnetic flow [1][2][3]. The role of nano-CuO in the increase in the critical current density is similar to the role of 211 phase inclusions [11][12][13] and suggests that a decrease in dimensions of these particles directly causes the higher pinning. Furthermore, these nanoparticles are believed to make no pronounced contributions to the crystalline structure of a superconducting matrix, being inert to a superconducting material.…”