|
“Solution-derived YBa2Cu3O7-\delta (YBCO) superconducting films with BaZrO3 (BZO) nanodots based on reverse micelle stabilized nanoparticles”. Bretos I, Schneller T, Falter M, Baecker M, Hollmann E, Woerdenweber R, Molina-Luna L, Van Tendeloo G, Eibl O, Journal of materials chemistry C : materials for optical and electronic devices 3, 3971 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1039/c4tc02543a
Abstract: Superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) films with artificial BaZrO3 (BZO) nanodots were prepared using a chemical solution deposition method involving hybrid solutions composed of trifluoroacetate-based YBCO precursors and reverse micelle stabilized BZO nanoparticle dispersions. Microemulsion-mediated synthesis was used to obtain nano-sized (similar to 12 nm) and mono-dispersed BZO nanoparticles that preserve their features once introduced into the YBCO solution, as revealed by dynamic light scattering. Phase pure, epitaxial YBCO films with randomly oriented BZO nanodots distributed over their whole microstructure were grown from the hybrid solutions on (100) LaAlO3 substrates. The morphology of the YBCO-BZO nanocomposite films was strongly influenced by the amount of nanoparticles incorporated into the system, with contents ranging from 5 to 40 mol%. Scanning electron microscopy showed a high density of isolated second-phase defects consisting of BZO nanodots in the nanocomposite film with 10 mol% of BZO. Furthermore, a direct observation and quantitative analysis of lattice defects in the form of interfacial edge dislocations directly induced by the BZO nanodots was evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. The superconducting properties (77 K) of the YBCO films improved considerably by the presence of such nanodots, which seem to enhance the morphology of the sample and therefore the intergranular critical properties. The incorporation of preformed second-phase defects (here, BZO) during the growth of the superconducting phase is the main innovation of this novel approach for the all-solution based low-cost fabrication of long-length coated conductors.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 5.256
Times cited: 19
DOI: 10.1039/c4tc02543a
|
|
|
“BaHfO3artificial pinning centres in TFA-MOD-derived YBCO and GdBCO thin films”. Erbe M, Hänisch J, Hühne R, Freudenberg T, Kirchner A, Molina-Luna L, Damm C, Van Tendeloo G, Kaskel S, Schultz L, Holzapfel B, Superconductor science and technology 28, 114002 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/28/11/114002
Abstract: Chemical solution deposition (CSD) is a promising way to realize REBa2Cu3O7−x (REBCO;RE = rare earth (here Y, Gd))-coated conductors with high performance in applied magnetic fields. However, the preparation process contains numerous parameters which need to be tuned to achieve high-quality films. Therefore, we investigated the growth of REBCO thin films containing nanometre-scale BaHfO3 (BHO) particles as pinning centres for magnetic flux lines, with emphasis on the influence of crystallization temperature and substrate on the microstructure and superconductivity. Conductivity, microscopy and x-ray investigations show an enhanced performance of BHO nano-composites in comparison to pristine REBCO. Further, those measurements reveal the superiority of GdBCO to YBCO—e.g. by inductive critical current densities, Jc, at self-field and 77 K. YBCO is outperformed by more than 1 MA cm−2 with Jc values of up to 5.0 MA cm−2 for 265 nm thick layers of GdBCO(BHO) on lanthanum aluminate. Transport in-field Jc measurements demonstrate high pinning force maxima of around 4 GN m−3 for YBCO(BHO) and GdBCO(BHO). However, the irreversibility fields are appreciably higher for GdBCO. The critical temperature was not significantly reduced upon BHO addition to both YBCO and GdBCO, indicating a low tendency for Hf diffusion into the REBCO matrix. Angular-dependent Jc measurements show a reduction of the anisotropy in the same order of magnitude for both REBCO compounds. Theoretical models suggest that more than one sort of pinning centre is active in all CSD films.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.878
Times cited: 36
DOI: 10.1088/0953-2048/28/11/114002
|
|
|
“Atomic and electronic structures of BaHfO3-doped TFA-MOD-derived YBa2Cu3O7−δthin films”. Molina-Luna L, Duerrschnabel M, Turner S, Erbe M, Martinez GT, Van Aert S, Holzapfel B, Van Tendeloo G, Superconductor science and technology 28, 115009 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/28/11/115009
Abstract: Tailoring the properties of oxide-based nanocomposites is of great importance for a wide range of materials relevant for energy technology. YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) superconducting thin films containing nanosized BaHfO3 (BHO) particles yield a significant improvement of the magnetic flux pinning properties and a reduced anisotropy of the critical current density. These films were prepared by chemical solution deposition (CSD) on (100) SrTiO3 (STO) substrates yielding critical current densities up to 3.6 MA cm−2 at 77 K and self-field. Transport in-field J c measurements demonstrated a high pinning force maximum of around 6 GN/m3 for a sample annealed at T = 760 °C that has a doping of 12 mol% of BHO. This sample was investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in combination with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) yielding strain and spectral maps. Spherical BHO nanoparticles of 15 nm in size were found in the matrix, whereas the particles at the interface were flat. A 2 nm diffusion layer containing Ti was found at the YBCO (BHO)/STO interface. Local lattice deformation mapping at the atomic scale revealed crystal defects induced by the presence of both sorts of BHO nanoparticles, which can act as pinning centers for magnetic flux lines. Two types of local lattice defects were identified and imaged: (i) misfit edge dislocations and (ii) Ba-Cu-Cu-Ba stacking faults (Y-248 intergrowths). The local electronic structure and charge transfer were probed by high energy resolution monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy. This technique made it possible to distinguish superconducting from non-superconducting areas in nanocomposite samples with atomic resolution in real space, allowing the identification of local pinning sites on the order of the coherence length of YBCO (~1.5 nm) and the determination of 0.25 nm dislocation cores.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.878
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1088/0953-2048/28/11/115009
|
|