Effect of Y2BaCuO5 Nanoparticle Doping on Critical Current Density of YBa2Cu3 O 7-δ Bulk Superconductor

Abstract

This study presents the effect of Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) nanoparticle doping on critical current density and critical temperature of YBa2Cu3 O 7-δ (YBCO) superconductor. Y211 nanoparticles with different particle sizes ranging from 34 to 455 nm were synthesized by a sol-gel method, then doped into the YBCO superconductor by 0.5, 1, and 2 wt.%. Samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope measurements. The standard four-probe technique was used to measure the critical current density at 77 K. The results showed that in the all-doped samples, critical current density was higher than that of the pure sample. It was found that in the samples containing 1 and 2 wt.% of Y211 nanoparticles, by increasing the size of nanoparticles, the J c was increased, but in samples containing 0.5 wt.%, the J c decreased. The maximum critical current density of 64 A/cm 2 was obtained for the samples doped with 2 wt.% of 455 nm Y211 nanoparticles. Also, it was observed that the critical temperature slightly decreased with nanoparticle doping.