Unravelling the Crystallization Process in Solution-Derived YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ Nanocomposite Films with Preformed ZrO₂ Nanocrystals via Definitive Screening Design

Abstract

A low-cost chemical solution deposition technique was employed to prepare YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) nanocomposite films starting from a colloidal solution containing preformed ZrO2 nanocrystals. As previous publications revealed, an increase in the amount of nanocrystals results in a progressive deterioration of the film properties. The parameters that control this process and their interplay are still unknown in detail. Using definitive screening design (DSD), a design-of-experiments approach, allowed determining which of the multiple growth parameters play a key role for improving the superconducting properties of YBCO nanocomposite films even with a large concentration of nanocrystals. In order to show the potential of DSD, it has been applied for the optimization of two different properties: the critical temperature Tc and the full width at half maximum of the (005) YBCO reflection. This work shows that DSD is a powerful and efficient method that allows optimizing certain processes with minimal number of experiments.

Size-Controlled Oxide Perovskite Nanocrystal Synthesis: Design, Optimization, and Mechanism Insights

“…Therefore, design of experiments (DoE) and, in this case, definitive screening design (DSD) have been the method of choice, which ensures all factor variability. DSD has become increasingly popular in chemical process optimization as it is an efficient route in garnering experimental data with a minimal number of experiments. − With only 13 experiments, the main factors governing experimental variability were found.…”

Defining inkjet printing conditions of superconducting cuprate films through machine learning

“…DSD has been successfully applied to optimize the synthesis of mesoporous carbon, titania nanoparticles, as well as fine tune the fabrication of TFA-REBCO superconductors. [23][24][25][26] On the other side of the spectrum we have the highthroughput approaches that explore a large number of parameters. High-throughput experimentation (HTE) is a methodology that is currently driving attention in fields such as catalysis, 27,28 solar cells, 29,30 batteries, 31 electronics 32 and superconductivity 33,34 thanks to its capability for parallel sample fabrication and characterization.…”

“…DSD has been successfully applied to optimize the synthesis of mesoporous carbon, titania nanoparticles, as well as fine tune the fabrication of TFA-REBCO superconductors. 23–26…”

Chemical and Microstructural Nanoscale Homogeneity in Superconducting YBa2Cu3O7–x Films Derived from Metal-Propionate Fluorine-free Solutions

“…Recently, we demonstrated that using fluorine-free solutions in a kinetically driven CSD approach, fabrication of YBCO layers could be attained at growth rates beyond 100 nm/s. This method, known as transient liquid-assisted growth (TLAG) process, promotes a cost-effective, high-throughput, and scalable growth of CC manufacturing, which can also benefit from combinatorial approaches to accelerate the experimentation and development of films with high performance. − The novelty of TLAG lies in the fact that it employs a two-step nucleation mechanism in non-equilibrium conditions, starting from the formation of a transient liquid of Ba–Cu–O in which solid Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles are dispersed, which occurs in a region of the phase diagram in which, instead, solid phases (like YBCO) are energetically favored. The Y 2 O 3 dissolution in the transient liquid and the high atomic mobility of Y in the liquid favor Y diffusion toward the nucleation front of YBCO nuclei and, thus, its ultrafast epitaxial growth through a liquid–solid reaction. ,, The driving force of this process is the Y supersaturation in the transient liquid, a parameter strongly controlled by the composition of the latter and easily modified through the stoichiometry of the precursor solutions.…”

“…The unique capabilities and potential of TLAG-CSD demonstrated an ultrafast growth rate of 100 nm/s, its compatibility with nanocomposite growth, and high critical current densities (3–5 MA/cm 2 at 77 K self-field) in films of 100 nm in thickness . The knowledge acquired from the previous acetate-based fluorine-free solutions has been beneficial for the fundamental understanding of the precursors’ role in the TLAG process. , Further steps in the advancement of TLAG require higher film thicknesses while maintaining the robustness of the process. Here, we describe the development of a novel class of solutions based on fluorine-free pure metal propionates, which is low-cost, robust, scalable, and suitable for TLAG-CSD growth of epitaxial YBCO superconducting films of high thickness with reproducible results.…”