Growth of REBa₂Cu₃O _x single-crystal whiskers utilizing the concept of high-entropy alloys

Abstract

Single-crystal whiskers of REBa2Cu3Ox (RE-123, RE: rare earth element) cuprate superconductors were successfully grown using Te-doped precursors utilizing the concept of high-entropy-alloys (HEAs) at the RE site. The obtained whiskers were 0.5–1.0 mm length with approximately 10 μm thickness. The width of the flat surface, which corresponds to the ab-plane, was 10–50 μm. The RE site of the grown whiskers could be easily substituted by large ionic radius RE elements (Gd, Dy, and Ho). Substitution with small ionic radius RE elements (Tm, Yb, and Lu) resulted in the opposite trend. The superconducting transition temperature and superconducting anisotropy of the grown RE-123 whiskers were 89–93 K and 6–10, respectively. The mixed entropy at the RE site in the RE-123 whiskers did not affect the superconducting transition temperature and superconducting anisotropy.