Synthesis of Y1-xAlxBa2Cu3O7-δ via combustion route: Effects of Al2O3 nanoparticles on superconducting properties

Abstract

Combustion reaction was used to synthesis Al2O3 nanoparticles embedded Y1-xAlxBa2Cu3O7-δ simultaneously. The effects of Al2O3 nanoparticles with nominal molar mass (xmol) of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10 towards the critical current density JC of Y1-xAlxBa2Cu3O7-δ were verified by magnetic measurement. Resulted XRD patterns revealed that the calcined samples consist of pure Al2O3 and Y1-xAlxBa2Cu3O7-δ phases which had been confirmed by EDX results. The SEM images showed that Al2O3 nanoparticles (~10nm) were distributed in polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7-δ grains and grain boundaries. The presence of higher concentration of Al2O3 nanoparticles has developed Al3+ rich spots which diffused within the YBa2Cu3O7-δ superconducting matrix to form Y1-xAlxBa2Cu3O7-δ and was confirmed by EDX analysis. The samples were electrically superconducting at temperature above 85K as measured by using standard four-probe technique. The magnetic field (H) dependent magnetization (M), M-H hysteresis loops measured at 77K for xmol≤0.06 samples are significantly improved attributed to the increase of trapped fluxes in the samples. Remarkable increase of magnetic JC (H) in Al2O3 nanoparticles added samples compared to the as prepared polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7-δ sample indicating strong pinning effect. It is suggested that well-distributed Al2O3 nanoparticles in the polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O7-δ matrix achieved via auto-combustion reaction has efficiently pin the magnetic vortex. The magnetic JC was optimized to ~6 kAcm-2 in xmol=0.06 sample. On the other hand, insignificant magnetic JC improvement in xmol≥0.08 samples is probably resulted from the agglomerated Al2O3 nanoparticles in Y1-xAlxBa2Cu3O7-δ phase.