Microstructure and self-organization of nano-engineered artificial pinning centers in YBa2Cu3O7−x coated conductors

Abstract

The introduction of nano-sized Artificial Pinning Centers (APCs) to YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) coated conductors immobilizes flux lines at higher fields, thus increasing their usefulness and commercial applicability. Moreover, careful nano-engineering of these APCs facilitates the fine-tuning of the superconducting properties of coated conductors such as enhanced pinning along specific crystallographic orientations or an overall reduction in anisotropy [1]. Understanding the self-organizational behavior of these APCs and their effect on the superconducting properties of YBCO thin films is the focus of this work.