Top Seeded Melt Growth Process Research Articles

R-z plane spatial critical current inhomogeneity-induced mechanical response of GdBCO superconducting bulks during field cooling magnetization

Benefiting from the high critical current density (J c), single-grain (RE)BCO (where RE = rare earth or Gd) bulks are capable of trapping over 17.6 T magnetic field which is crucial for the application of bulk superconductors. Nevertheless, during field cooling magnetization (FCM), the large mechanical stress induced by Lorentz forces may lead to fracture behavior in the brittle ceramic nature of (RE)BCO materials. Most previous numerical models that adopted simplified homogeneous J c had difficulty reflecting the real stress/strain situation in high temperature superconductor (HTS) bulks. Based on the proposed modified Jirsa model considering r-z plane J c inhomogeneity, we investigate the mechanical response of GdBCO bulks manufactured by top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) process. A 2D axisymmetric electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical coupled model is implemented to take into account the dependence of J c upon mechanical deformation. The simulation results show the electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical response of the r-z plane inhomogeneous J c model is lower than that obtained by the homogeneous J c model. This confirms Takahashi’s speculation (K Takahashi 2019 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 32 015007) about the mismatch between experimental data and the simulation results of homogeneous J c model, and suggests the stress levels in the bottom plane of HTS bulk are overestimated by the previous homogeneous J c model. On top of that, the overall stress level of GdBCO bulk is strongly determined by the magnitude and position of the Lorentz force load, and the stress distribution of inhomogeneous J c model is mainly concentrated in high J c regions near top surface, instead of being symmetrically distributed along the z-axis as in homogeneous J c model. The mechanical response of stainless steel reinforced GdBCO bulk was aslo simulated and analyzed. Finally, the coupling effect between the fracture strength variability caused by defects and cracks and the trapped field in GdBCO bulks with r-z plane J c inhomogeneity is further studied. This study may provide a relatively realistic mechanical response of HTS bulk during FCM, and a novel design consideration for its mechanical reinforcement.

Tuning the top-seeded melt growth of REBCO single-domain superconducting bulks by a pyramid-like buffer stack

In this contribution, the usage of a pyramid-like buffer stack for optimization of the top-seeded melt growth process of GdBCO (GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ ) single-domain superconductors is demonstrated. The process was optimized by the addition of SmBCO into GdBCO/Ag into the buffer precursor powder, which effectively increased the peritectic temperature of the final mixed powder in the pyramid-like buffer stack. As such, this approach can be also used for other REBCO systems by selecting rare earth with a higher peritectic temperature and adding it to the buffer pellets. The thermal behavior of the powders was studied by STA. This enables fast and effective crystal growth through the buffer stack and the formation of large effective seeds. This approach also allows for reliable and precise tuning of growth angle and together with effective seed size facilitates tuning of a - b to c sector ratio. The phase composition of precursors and prepared bulks were studied by XRD. The microstructure was also studied by SEM and OM in detail. Subsequently, levitation force and trapped field were measured. Results confirmed that the addition of at least a single buffer pellet improved the melt growth process significantly by acting as a large effective seed. Superconducting properties of the samples grown by pyramid-like buffer stack are superior in comparison to reference TSMG samples.

Trapped magnetic field and levitation force properties of multi-seeded YBCO superconductors with different seed distance

The performance of large grain (RE)BCO superconducting bulks has the significant potential for magnetic-force based applications such as trapped field magnets and magnetic levitation devices. These materials can trap high magnetic fields of several tesla at temperature below 77 K and also provide stable levitation and high load capacity in magnetic levitation systems. Top seeded melt growth process and multi-seeding technique have been used to enlarge bulk (RE)BCO samples, however many factors affect the growth of multi-seeded bulk (RE)BCO. These include the geometry of sample, the distance between seed crystal, the seed combination and alignment. In this work, we investigated the effects of the distance (d) between two Nd1.8Ba2.4Cu3.4O7 (Nd-123) seed crystals on the characteristics of the (100)//(100) grain junction of top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) processed YBCO bulk superconductors. Four cylindrical shaped Y–Ba–Cu–O samples of dimensions 25 mm in diameter and 7 mm in height with two seed crystals were prepared for this investigation. The fabrication process of these samples is described and their trapped magnetic field and vertical levitation force were measured at 77 K and lower temperatures under Zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and Field-cooled (FC) regimes. We found that both the trapped magnetic field and the vertical levitation force decreased with increasing d value. The trapped field and the vertical levitation force values of the samples with the decreasing the distance between two seed crystals from 16 mm to 1 mm, increased from 0,62 T to 0,78 T and from 13.08 N to 19.41 N, respectively. A peak trapped field value of 4.20 T and vertical levitation force of 19. 41 N has been achieved in this study for YBCO with the distance between two seed crystals of 1 mm. The obtained results can be contributing the properties on improvement of the levitation force and trapped magnetic field and these properties induce widespread usage of multi-seeded YBCO bulks in technological applications.

Radial and axial stiffness of superconducting bearings based on YBCO single-domain bulks processed with artificial holes

Superconducting magnetic bearings are becoming more widespread, due to the unique properties they provide. Their efficiency is unparallel, there are no issues such as contact, friction, and wear. They require low or minimal maintenance, no lubrication and they work under extreme conditions (cryogenic temperatures, high vacuum). In this contribution, the influence of geometric properties of superconducting bulks on the performance of superconducting bearings was studied. The main focus was paid to load capacity, radial and axial stiffnesses. Two samples with a significantly higher aspect ratio compared to conventional bulks were prepared. One of these samples was synthesized with artificially created holes. The samples were prepared using top-seeded melt-growth process with an additional source of a liquid phase in the form of an underlaying pad. The original thickness of 16 mm of the samples with a diameter of 28 mm was repeatedly ground down. Levitation force and trapped field were measured after each grinding step. Using this approach, the dependence of properties of the bulks on their thickness, scaling of these properties with thickness and the influence that artificial holes can make on the properties of finished single domain bulks were studied. The maximum levitation force was greatly improved for bulks with thicknesses of 2–6 mm. Such data is of the utmost importance in the field of superconducting YBCO single domain bulk ceramics, as it allows for better understanding and further improvement of both the manufacturing process and real-world applications of these materials.

Inhomogeneity of SmBCO bulk superconductors grown in air

The local superconducting properties and microstructure of SmBCO bulk single-grain superconductors with the addition of different quantities of BaO2 were studied. The single-grain bulk SmBCO superconductors were fabricated via the top-seeded melt growth process in air. Increasing transition temperature, critical current density and the narrowing superconducting transition width were observed with BaO2 addition. It was shown that the transition temperature and critical current density depend on the distance from the seed. Microstructural analysis showed that the reaction of Ba with the supporting ZrO2 bars is responsible for the gradient of Ba concentration in the peritectic melt, and consequent changes in Sm/Ba substitution in the Sm123 crystal lattice lead to the inhomogeneity of local superconducting properties.

Comparison of the superconducting properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O-Ag bulk superconductors

The widespread use of RE-Ba-Cu-O [(RE)BCO] bulk superconductors, where RE=Y, Gd or Sm, in practical applications requires large single grains that exhibit uniform superconducting properties. Until recently, however, it was difficult to grow successfully YBCO-Ag bulk materials in the required single grain form, due primarily to the relative complexity of the top seeded melt growth process (TSMG) and the introduction of an alloying element (Ag) to the precursor composition. In most cases, alloying elements are used to improve the mechanical properties of the bulk superconductor whilst, at the same time, aim to cause minimal detrimental effect on the superconducting properties of the fully processed sample. In this work we investigate the effect of the addition of silver to YBCO on the superconducting properties of the bulk single grain, including trapped field, Tc and Jc, and on the sample microstructure.

Influence of Sm Doping on YBCO Bulks in YBa2Cu3O7-δ/Y2 BaCuO5 System

Sm-doped single-grain YBCO bulk superconductors were fabricated by the Top Seeded Melt Growth process in the system YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ /Y 2 BaCuO 5 with CeO 2 addition and with added liquid-rich powder at the bottom pellet. According to microstructure analyses, Sm 2 O 3 addition led to the refinement of Y-211 particles, which was reflected in higher critical current density, J c , at 77 K and zero field measured for doped sample. Missing of expected secondary peak in J c field dependence for doped sample was related to lowering of Sm concentration in the sample by its diffusion into additional liquid-rich phase pellet. Sm-doped pellet exhibited higher maximum trapped field, B c , measured at 77 K.

A Low-Cost Fabrication Technique for the Growth of Single-Domain GdBCO Bulk Superconductor from Raw Metal Oxides

A single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductor is usually fabricated using a mixture of pre-reacted precursor powders (including GdBa2Cu3O7−δ and Gd2BaCuO5) by the top-seeded melt texture growth (TSMTG) process. However, the synthesis of pure-phase precursor powder by the solid-state sintering reaction can not only consume time for weeks but also prolong the fabrication process and can lead to a low-efficiency and high-cost process. In this paper, we reported the successful growth of single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors by the top-seeded metallic oxide melt growth (TS-MOMG) process in which the raw materials of Gd2O3, BaO, and CuO, the three different metallic oxides, are just involved to fabricate the single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors. After detailed investigations in the morphology, levitation force, trapped magnetic field, and critical temperature of the grown samples with different ratios, it was found that the simplified precursor-phase source can be used to fabricate the single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors more efficiently, which can combine the crystal growth procedure and greatly economize the preparation cost and the time to the most extent.

Growth rate of YBCO-Ag superconducting single grains

The large scale use of (RE)Ba2Cu3O7 bulk superconductors, where RE=Y, Gd, Sm, is, in part, limited by the relatively poor mechanical properties of these inherently brittle ceramic materials. It is reported that alloying of (RE)Ba2Cu3O7 with silver enables a significant improvement in the mechanical strength of bulk, single grain samples without any detrimental effect on their superconducting properties. However, due to the complexity and number of inter-related variables involved in the top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process, the growth of large single grains is difficult and the addition of silver makes it even more difficult to achieve successful growth reliably. The key processing variables in the TSMG process include the times and temperatures of the stages within the heating profile, which can be derived from the growth rate during the growth process. To date, the growth rate of the YBa2Cu3O7-Ag system has not been reported in detail and it is this lacuna that we have sought to address. In this work we measure the growth rate of the YBCO-Ag system using a method based on continuous cooling and isothermal holding (CCIH). We have determined the growth rate by measuring the side length of the crystallised region for a number of samples for specified isothermal hold temperatures and periods. This has enabled the growth rate to be modelled and from this an optimized heating profile for the successful growth of YBCO-Ag single grains to be derived.

Influence of annealing in oxygen and argon on the superconducting properties of Li-doped YBCO single-grain bulks

YBa2(Cu1-xLix)3O7-δ single-grain bulk superconductors with different Li concentrations were grown using the top-seeded melt growth process. Structural analysis of the samples and magnetisation measurements showed that substitution of the Cu atoms by the Li atoms took place in the YBa2Cu3O7-δ crystal lattice. This substitution was accompanied by the formation of effective pinning centres, which improved the pinning properties of the samples and increased the critical current density. Additional annealing and reannealing in oxygen and argon showed that the superconducting transition temperature displays substantially more suppression, when the Li-doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ samples were annealed in argon, that was associated with different distribution of the Li atoms between the CuO chains and the CuO2 planes in comparison to annealing in oxygen. Investigation of the critical current densities showed that the pinning properties of YBa2(Cu1-xLix)3O7-δ single-grain bulk superconductors did not depend on the arrangement of the Li atoms in the YBa2Cu3O7-δ crystal lattice. It was also observed that the crystal lattice parameters and the mean diameter of the non-superconducting Y2BaCuO5 particles systematically change with Li concentration.

YBCO Bulk Superconductors with Sm Addition

The influence of Sm addition on the microstructure and superconducting properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) bulk superconductors has been studied. Precursor powders YBa2Cu3O7-δ (Y-123), Y2O3 and CeO2 were enriched with different amounts of SmBa2Cu3Oy (Sm-123) or Sm2O3 powders with the aim to increase critical current density, Jc,by introducing additional pinning centers. YBCO bulk superconductors with SmBa2Cu3Oy (Y123-Sm) or Sm2O3 (Y123-SmO) powder addition were prepared by the optimized top seeded melt growth process in the form of single grains. Microstructure analysis revealed that Sm2O3 addition leads to a higher amount of smaller Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) particles, what is related to high critical current densities (Jc ~ 7 x 104 A/cm2) of the YBCO samples with Sm2O3 addition in low magnetic fields. The effect of Sm addition in the form of SmBa2Cu3Oy as well as Sm2O3 powder on Y2BaCuO5 particle size, critical temperature, Tc, and critical current density, Jc, is reported.

Improvements in the processing of large grain, bulk Y–Ba–Cu–O superconductors via the use of additional liquid phase

A major limitation to the widespread application of Y–Ba–Cu–O (YBCO) bulk superconductors is the relative complexity and low yield of the top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process, by which these materials are commonly fabricated. It has been demonstrated in previous work on the recycling of samples in which the primary growth had failed, that the provision of an additional liquid-rich phase to replenish liquid lost during the failed growth process leads to the reliable growth of relatively high quality recycled samples. In this paper we describe the adaptation of the liquid phase enrichment technique to the primary TSMG fabrication process. We further describe the observed differences between the microstructure and superconducting properties of samples grown with additional liquid-rich phase and control samples grown using a conventional TSMG process. We observe that the introduction of the additional liquid-rich phase leads to the formation of a higher concentration of Y species at the growth front, which leads, in turn, to a more uniform composition at the growth front. Importantly, the increased uniformity at the growth front leads directly to an increased homogeneity in the distribution of the Y-211 inclusions in the superconducting Y-123 phase matrix and to a more uniform Y-123 phase itself. Overall, the provision of an additional liquid-rich phase improves significantly both the reliability of grain growth through the sample thickness and the magnitude and homogeneity of the superconducting properties of these samples compared to those fabricated by a conventional TSMG process.

Microstructural evolution in multiseeded YBCO bulk samples grown by the TSMG process

Superconducting single-grain YBCO bulk samples with the ability to trap high magnetic fields can be grown using the top-seeded melt-growth process. Multiseeding techniques have the potential to enable larger diameter bulks to be grown, but the performance of these materials is not yet comparable to the single-seeded bulks. Here we carry out detailed three-dimensional microstructural characterisation on a multiseeded sample grown with the seeds aligned in the 0°–0° geometry using high resolution microanalysis techniques. Chemical and structural variations have been correlated with the trapped field distribution in three separate slices of the sample. The top slice of the sample shows four peaks in trapped field, indicating that the current flows in four separate loops rather than in one large loop within the sample. This has been explained by the build-up in insulating Y-211 particles where the growth fronts from the two seeds meet, forming a barrier to current flow, as well as the low Y-211 content (and hence low Jc) of the large c-axis growth sector.

Comparison of the effects of platinum and CeO2 on the properties of single grain, Sm–Ba–Cu–O bulk superconductors

SmBa2Cu3O7−δ (Sm-123) is a light-rare-earth barium-cuprate (LRE-BCO) high-temperature superconductor (HTS) with significant potential for high field industrial applications. We report the fabrication of large, single grain bulk [Sm–Ba–Cu–O (SmBCO)] superconductors containing 1 wt% CeO2 and 0.1 wt% Pt using a top-seeded melt growth process. The performance of the SmBCO bulk superconductors containing the different dopants was evaluated based on an analysis of their superconducting properties, including critical transition temperature, Tc and critical current density, Jc , and on sample microstructure. We find that both CeO2 and Pt dopants refine the size of Sm2BaCuO5 (Sm-211) particles trapped in the Sm-123 superconducting phase matrix, which act as effective flux pinning centres, although the addition of CeO2 results in broadly improved superconducting performance of the fully processed bulk single grain. However, 1 wt% CeO2 is significantly cheaper than 0.1 wt% Pt, which has clear economic benefits for use in medium to large scale production processes for these technologically important materials. Finally, the use of CeO2 results generally in the formation of finer Sm-211 particles and to the generation of fewer macro-cracks and Sm-211 free regions in the sample microstructure.

Factors Affecting the Growth of Multiseeded Superconducting Single Grains

Single grain, rare earth–barium–copper oxide [(RE)BCO] bulk superconductors, fabricated either individually or assembled in large or complicated geometries, have a significant potential for a variety of potential engineering applications. Unfortunately, (RE)BCO single grains have intrinsically very low growth rates, which limits the sample size that may be achieved in a practical, top seeded melt growth process. As a result, a melt process based on the use of two or more seeds (so-called multiseeding) to control the nucleation and subsequent growth of bulk (RE)BCO superconductors has been developed to fabricate larger samples and to reduce the time taken for the melt process. However, the formation of regions that contain non-superconducting phases at grain boundaries has emerged as an unavoidable consequence of this process. This leads to the multiseeded sample behaving as if it is composed of multiple, singly seeded regions. In this work we have examined the factors that lead to the accumulation of non-...

A novel, two-step top seeded infiltration and growth process for the fabrication of single grain, bulk (RE)BCO superconductors

A fundamental requirement of the fabrication of high performing, (RE)–Ba–Cu–O bulk superconductors is achieving a single grain microstructure that exhibits good flux pinning properties. The top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process is a well-established technique for the fabrication of single grain (RE)BCO bulk samples and is now applied routinely by a number of research groups around the world. The introduction of a buffer layer to the TSMG process has been demonstrated recently to improve significantly the general reliability of the process. However, a number of growth-related defects, such as porosity and the formation of micro-cracks, remain inherent to the TSMG process, and are proving difficult to eliminate by varying the melt process parameters. The seeded infiltration and growth (SIG) process has been shown to yield single grain samples that exhibit significantly improved microstructures compared to the TSMG technique. Unfortunately, however, SIG leads to other processing challenges, such as the reliability of fabrication, optimisation of RE2BaCuO5 (RE-211) inclusions (size and content) in the sample microstructure, practical oxygenation of as processed samples and, hence, optimisation of the superconducting properties of the bulk single grain. In the present paper, we report the development of a near-net shaping technique based on a novel two-step, buffer-aided top seeded infiltration and growth (BA-TSIG) process, which has been demonstrated to improve greatly the reliability of the single grain growth process and has been used to fabricate successfully bulk, single grain (RE)BCO superconductors with improved microstructures and superconducting properties. A trapped field of ∼0.84 T and a zero field current density of 60 kA cm−2 have been measured at 77 K in a bulk, YBCO single grain sample of diameter 25 mm processed by this two-step BA-TSIG technique. To the best of our knowledge, this value of trapped field is the highest value ever reported for a sample fabricated by an infiltration and growth process. In this study we report the successful fabrication of 14 YBCO samples, with diameters of up to 32 mm, by this novel technique with a success rate of greater than 92%.

Microstructure and Superconducting Properties of YBCO Bulk Superconductors With RE Substitutions

The influence of RE ( $\text{RE} = \text{Yb}, \text{Sm}$ ) substitutions on the microstructure and superconducting properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) bulk superconductors has been studied for different RE concentrations and their combinations. Precursor powders $\text{YBa}_{2}\text{Cu}_{3}\text{O}_{7-\delta}$ (Y-123), Y2O3 and CeO2 were enriched with different amounts of Yb2O3 and (or) Sm2O3 powders with the aim to increase critical current density, i.e., $J_{c}$ , in self-field as well as in higher magnetic fields, by introducing additional pinning centers. YBCO bulk superconductors with RE2O3 addition were prepared by the optimized top-seeded melt-growth process in the form of single grains. Microstructure analysis revealed that RE2O3 addition leads to a higher amount of smaller Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) particles, which is related to high critical current density $(J_{c} \sim 7 \times 10^{4} \text{A/cm}^{2})$ of the samples with RE2O3 addition in low magnetic fields. In this paper, the effect of RE2O3 addition on Y-211 particle size, critical temperature $T_{c}$ , and critical current density $J_{c}$ is reported.

Comparison of Mechanical and Superconducting Properties of YBaCuO and GdBaCuO Single Grains Prepared by Top-Seeded Melt Growth

It is known that mechanical properties of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) can affect the superconducting behaviour of the material. In this study, the mechanical and basic superconducting properties of single-domain YBaCuO and GdBaCuO were determined and compared. The bulk single-grain superconductor samples were prepared by top-seeded melt growth process. Distribution of trapped fields in the samples was mapped using the Hall probe technique. Levitation force was assessed using a dynamometer. Phase composition of the samples, was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurements. Microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. Microhardness and comprehensive strength of the prepared samples were measured at a room temperature. The GdBaCuO superconductor has shown higher average hardness than the YBCO sample; higher fragility was also observed by comprehensive strength measurement of both types. Maximum trapped magnetic field was 0.65 T at 77 K in the case of a Gd-based material. In comparison with YBaCuO, the values of the trapped magnetic field and levitation force of GdBaCuO were higher. The results obtained can be useful for rare earth element (RE) superconductor device engineering as well as for the research in the field of superconducting ceramics.

Thermal stability of NdBCO/YBCO/MgO thin film seeds

Thermal stability of the Nd1+xBa2−xCu3O7−δ (Nd-123 or NdBCO) thin films deposited on MgO substrate, with YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Y-123 or YBCO) buffer layer (NdBCO/YBCO/MgO thin film), has been experimentally studied in order to determine the optimal film thickness acting as seed for bulk YBCO growth. YBCO bulk superconductors with Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) and CeO2 addition were prepared by the top seeded melt growth process in a chamber furnace using NdBCO/YBCO/MgO thin film seeds of different thicknesses (200–700 nm with 20 nm YBCO buffer layer) and different maximum temperatures, Tmax. The maximum temperatures varied in the range of 1040 °C–1125 °C. The highest thermal stability 1118 °C was observed in the case of NdBCO/YBCO/MgO thin film of 300 nm thickness. These results are corroborated with differential scanning calorimetry and high temperature x-ray diffraction measurements, as well as microstructure observations.

Effect of Pt and CeO2 on Growth of Y-123/nano-Y2O3 Single Grain Superconductors

The top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process is used widely to grow single grain, bulk superconductors for high field engineering applications. Within the TSMG process, the flux pinning ability of a single-grain bulk superconductor can be improved effectively by reducing the size of starting precursor powders prior to melt processing. This paper investigates the preparation of Y-123/nano-Y <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> single-grain samples based on TSMG process. A large number of microcracks and significant inhomogeneity were found in samples containing Pt and CeO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> additives, respectfully. This reduces the performance of samples made from nano Y <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> starring powders. A pretreatment of the starting powders was developed to decrease microcracks and improve the homogeneity of Y-123/nano-Y <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> single grain samples. The influence of Pt and CeO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> doping on the superconducting properties of the fully processed single grain were also investigated in detail. The Y-123/nano-Y <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> based samples exhibit features that are rarely seen in conventional YBCO single grain, bulk superconductors.