Enhanced dual superconducting and ferromagnetic properties of YBCO film tuned with boron and oxygen partial pressures

Abstract

This study reports the dual enhancement of superconductivity and ferromagnetic properties of YBCO films for the first time. These dual enhanced properties have been achieved by tunning YBCO films with dopant boron and oxygen partial pressures. Thin films of YBa2Cu3-xBxO7-y with different B concentrations and oxygen partial pressures were fabricated by electro-spin coating. The systematic optimization of B concentration and oxygen partial pressure of YBCO films were studied through microstructural, electrical, optical, and magnetic properties. In particular, YBCO film doped with 20 mol% B and 20 SCCM O2 pressure showed excellent superconducting and magnetic properties. The breakthrough of this study in the films YBa2Cu2.4B0.6O7−y/20 SCCM, not only displayed enhanced superconducting properties but also ferromagnetic properties at near transition temperature (Tc) (i.e., 109 K). The magnetic moment values YBa2Cu2.4B0.6O7−y/20 SCCM films achieved ≈ 0.65 μB/mol, which is two order increment of films prepared without oxygen partial pressure. The dopant boron and oxygen partial pressure provide a new pathway for tuning the superconducting and ferromagnetic properties of YBCO thin films.