Microstructure of BaZrO3-Doped DyBa2Cu3O7-x Coated Conductors Deposited by Inclined Substrate Deposition

Abstract

Abstract Microstructure engineering provides an effective way to improve the vortex pinning via addition of nano precipitates in a superconducting matrix. Precise control of these nano precipitates, including their dimensions and alignment, is critical to obtain optimal pinning. DyBa2Cu3O7-x (DyBCO) films with BaZrO3 nano precipitates (BZO-NPs) were grown on biaxially-textured MgO buffer layers deposited by Inclined Substrate Deposition (ISD) on Hastelloy substrates. A critical current density (Jc) of 0.9 MA cm-2 was obtained at 77 K in self-field. Orientation and size of the BZO-NPs were investigated using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The BZO-NPs were aligned along the (a,b)-plane of DyBCO and thus was greatly affected by the faceted geometry of the ISD MgO buffer layer.