Fabrication and Superconducting Property of Large Single-Domain Gd–Ba–Cu–O Bulk Using Yb-based Liquid Source

Abstract

In this article, we report a processing method for fabricating large single-domain Gd–Ba–Cu–O (GdBCO) bulk superconductors using a new Yb-based liquid source composed of Yb2O3, BaCuO2, and CuO by the top seeded infiltration and growth process (TSIG). Using our method, only two kinds of precursor powders, involving Gd2Ba-CuO5 (Gd-211) and BaCuO2, are needed to prepare for the whole TSIG flow, which can effectively shorten the experimental cycle and then advance the experimental efficiency. The microstructure and superconducting property of the GdBCO product were investigated. The results indicate that this Yb-based liquid source can be used to fabricate well-textured large GdBCO single domains, and can also raise the utilization rate of the liquid source powder. The results are helpful to reduce the time and cost during the fabrication of GdBCO bulk superconductors.