Enhanced supercurrent density in polycrystalline YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) at 77 K from calcium doping of grain boundaries

With the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity, it seemed that the vision of superconducting power cables operating at the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K) was close to realization. But it was soon found that the critical current density Jc of the supercurrents that can pass through these polycrystalline materials without destroying superconductivity is remarkably small. In many materials, Jc is suppressed at grain boundaries, by phenomena such as interface charging and bending of the electronic band structure. Partial replacement ('doping') of the yttrium in YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) with calcium has been used to increase grain-boundary Jc values substantially, but only at temperatures much lower than 77 K (ref. 9). Here we show that preferentially overdoping the grain boundaries, relative to the grains themselves, yields values of Jc at 77 K that far exceed previously published values. Our results indicate that grain-boundary doping is a viable approach for producing a practical, cost-effective superconducting power cable operating at liquid-nitrogen temperatures.     

零电阻温度为110K的Bi-Sr-Pb-Ca-Cu-O超导材料的制备与研究

采用固相反应法制备含Pb的Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O新体系超导块材,超导电性与热处理工艺密切关联。在液氮温区以上体系存在Tc为110K和85K两个超导相。寻求最佳工艺条件可获得稳定性较好的零电阻温度为110K的块状样品。     

Doping effects of ZrC and ZrB2 in the powder-in-tube processed MgB2 tapes

We have investigated the effects of ZrC and ZrB2 doping on the superconducting properties of the powder-in-tube processed MgB2/Fe tapes. Sam- ples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX), transport and magnetic measurements. We confirmed the fol- lowing quite different roles of ZrC and ZrB2 in MgB2. ZrC doping was found to decrease the transport critical current density (Jc) at 4.2 K, while the critical temperature (Tc) kept constant. In contrast, the Jc values in magnetic fields were enhanced greatly by the ZrB2 addition, which resulted in a decrease in Tc by only 0.5 K. The reason for different effects of two dopants is also discussed.     

U－Doped Y－Ba－Cu－O Melt－Processed Superconductor

Large grain Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) superconductors doped with various amounts of depleted uranium oxide have been fabricated by top seeded melt growth (TSMG). The effect of depleted UO2 on the large grain microstructure has been studied systematically in samples with and without added Pt. Addition of uranium oxide results in the formation of U-phase particles of dimensions of a few hundred nanometers with an approximately spherical morphology in the superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-8(Y-123) phase matrix. Addition of Y2O3to the uranium doped precursor powder, rather than Y-211, yields a significantly finer distribution of second phase particles.The chemical composition of the U-phase particles, found in samples with no Pt addition, has been identified as Y2Ba4CuUOy, which exhibits paramagnetic behaviour. It has been confirmed experimentally that this phase forms during the peritectic solidification process. Magnetic measurements show that U-doped melt processed YBCO exhibits improved critical current densities and trapped fields compared to un-doped material.     

Resonance as a measure of pairing correlations in the high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O6.6

One of the most striking properties of the high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductors is that they are all derived from insulating antiferromagnetic parent compounds. The intimate relationship between magnetism and superconductivity in these copper oxide materials has intrigued researchers from the outset, because it does not exist in conventional superconductors. Evidence for this link comes from neutron-scattering experiments that show the unambiguous presence of short-range antiferromagnetic correlations (excitations) in the high-Tc superconductors. Even so, the role of such excitations in the pairing mechanism for superconductivity is still a subject of controversy. For YBa2Cu3O(6+x), where x controls the hole-doping level, the most prominent feature in the magnetic excitation spectrum is a sharp resonance (refs 6-11). Here we show that for underdoped YBa2Cu3O6.6, where x and Tc are below their optimal values, modest magnetic fields suppress the resonance significantly, much more so for fields approximately perpendicular to the CuO2 planes than for parallel fields. Our results indicate that the resonance measures pairing and phase coherence, suggesting that magnetism plays an important role in high-Tc superconductivity. The persistence of a field effect above Tc favours mechanisms in which the superconducting electron pairs are pre-formed in the normal state of underdoped copper oxide superconductors, awaiting transition to the superconducting state.     

Superconducting Properties and Microstructure in MgB2 Bulks, Wires and Tapes

We prepared a series of MgB2 bulk samples under different temperatures, holding time and increasing rates in temperature by the solid state reaction. The thermodynamic behavior and phase formation in the Mg-B system were studied by using DTA, XRD and SEM. The results indicate that the formation of the MgB2 phase is very fast and the high increasing rate in temperature is necessary to obtain high quality MgB2. In addition, the effects of the Zr-doping in Mg1-xZrxB2 bulk samples fabricated by the solid state reaction at ambient pressure on phase compositions, microstructure and flux pinning behavior were investigated by using XRD, SQUID magnetometer, SEM and TEM. Critical current density Jc can be significantly enhanced by the Zr-doping and the best data are achieved in Mg0.9Zr0.1B2. For this sample, Jc values are remarkably improved to 1. 83 × 106 A/cm2 in self-field and 5. 51 × 105 A/cm2in 1T at 20K. Also, high quality MgB2/Ta/Cu wires and tapes with and without Ti-doping, MgB2/Fe wires and 18 filamen     

（RE）BaCuO／Ag Composites： The Role of Silver in Bulk Materials and Joints

We have investigated the phase equilibria in (RE)BaCuO/Ag systems, the influence of Ag on the processing of (RE)BaCuO/Ag composites and the resulting properties. YBaCuO/Ag composites have been grown by the modified melt crystallization process with YBa2Cu3O7, Y2O3, Pt and Ag2O in the precursor. The improved strength of the YBaCuO/Ag composites compared with the conventional YBaCuO bulk material permitted us to magnetize these materials to achieve trapped fields up to 16 T (at 24 K) in the gap of a mini-magnet. The investigation of the microstructure revealed a remarkable increase of the spacing between micro-cracks especially of those perpendicular to a/b-planes when 12wt% Ag was added. In the case of SmBaCuO/Ag composites, Ag has a strong influence on processing and causes interactions between RE123 seeds and the sample. We show the growth of single-grain SmBaCuO/Ag composites in air and discuss the influence of post-annealing on increasing Tc and Jc. Furthermore, YBaCuO/Ag composites have been shown to be appropriate materials used as a solder to join large single grains to large arrays or to “repair” grain boundaries in arrays grown by a multiseeding technique.     

部份熔融YBCO超导体的载流特性

通过高温短时间处理,获得不同程度的晶界熔融态的YBCO超导块状试样。研究表明,部份熔融使试样体积收缩6％时,临界电流密度可提高26％。测量了在不同磁场强度变化率H(从1.3Oe/s至500Oe/s)时试样的磁阻曲线R(H)。发现R(H)曲线随H的增大而增大,在某一H值处产生拐点:在拐点之前d~2R(H)/dH~2>0,R(H)随H增加而增大;在拐点之后,d~2R(H)/dH~2<0,H对R(H)影响不大。R(H)曲线的拐点对应的磁场相当于下临界场Hcl。     

LiF:Mg,Cu和LiF:Mg,Cu,P低温热释光性质研究

LiF:Mg,Cu,P和LiF:Mg,Cu样品主峰温度相近,推断形成样品中相应峰的缺陷有相似结构。同剂量LiF:Mg,Cu和LiF:Mg,Cu,P发光曲线相似,但发光谱中心却差别很大,推测LiF:Mg,Cu,P复合中心与P元素有密切关系。     

草酸盐一次共沉淀法制备YBa2Cu3O7—x超导体

用改进的双流加料共沉淀法和恰当的草酸盐沉淀剂组成,克服了草酸盐一次共沉淀不完全的缺点;依据共沉淀的钇钡铜草酸盐样品在净化氧气氛中的 DTA/TG 曲线特征,拟定共沉淀样品的合理灼烧程序,以防止混合草酸盐样品内部氧化还原的急剧反应,致使部分 Cu~(2+)被还原为 Cu~0,并释放出大量气体。按此法制得的高温超导体样品,经XRD,SEM,TEM,F_C,J_C 测定,说明样品属 YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-x)斜方晶系;而且该样品未经研磨、压片和重新烧结,T_C 即已达到 91K,说明本方法具有一定的实用意义。     

i_(2-x)Pb_xS_2Ca_2Cu_3Oy陶瓷的超导电性及显微结构分析

报道用直接烧结和二次烧结工艺制备Bi_(2-x)Pb_xSr_2Ca_2Cu_3Oy超导陶瓷,X=0.2,0.3,0.4,0.6,0.7。各样品的Tc(zero)>105K。对样品的显微结构分析表明,只有片状和层状晶粒是超导晶粒;掺Pb对超导相的形成和超导晶粒的生长均有重要-影响;直接烧结工艺有利于Tc(zero)的提高;二次烧结工艺有利于超导晶粒生长和消除杂相。     

RE211晶须实验研究的现状及意义

 作为RE123（REBa2Cu3O7-δ）包晶分解的产物,RE211（RE2BaCuO5）在构成RE123块材、薄膜及涂层导体中扮演着一个重要的角色。在RE123块材中,RE211粒子与RE123晶粒的晶界缺陷能够产生强磁通钉扎,有利于提高临界电流密度（Jc）。探明RE211包裹物形成的原因,对于获得高品质RE123膜十分重要;对于涂层导体,在交替生长Y211与Y123多层膜的过程中引入第二相的纳米尺度的Y211粒子,可以大大提高高磁场下的Jc值。由于RE211对RE123的形成及其超导性能有很大的影响,研究RE211的生长并且生长出大线度RE211晶须,就有很重要的意义。本文简要总结了RE211晶须实验研究的成果和现状,对RE211晶须实验和理论研究的意义以及应用前景进行了讨论;报道了笔者所在小组采用熔体法在单晶炉中生长大尺寸（最长15.5mm）Sm211晶须的方法和条件     

硅和蓝宝石基底上的高Tc薄膜

使用多层沉积和大块沉积两种技术,在硅和蓝宝石的单晶基底上沉积了Yba2XCu3O7高Tc薄膜,实验显示：在硅基底上得到了转变温度为80K的期待结果．     

Superconductivity at 39 K in magnesium diboride

In the light of the tremendous progress that has been made in raising the transition temperature of the copper oxide superconductors (for a review, see ref. 1), it is natural to wonder how high the transition temperature, Tc, can be pushed in other classes of materials. At present, the highest reported values of Tc for non-copper-oxide bulk superconductivity are 33 K in electron-doped Cs(x)Rb(y)C60 (ref. 2), and 30 K in Ba(1-x)K(x)BiO3 (ref. 3). (Hole-doped C60 was recently found to be superconducting with a Tc as high as 52 K, although the nature of the experiment meant that the supercurrents were confined to the surface of the C60 crystal, rather than probing the bulk.) Here we report the discovery of bulk superconductivity in magnesium diboride, MgB2. Magnetization and resistivity measurements establish a transition temperature of 39 K, which we believe to be the highest yet determined for a non-copper-oxide bulk superconductor.     

高临界温度YBaCu氧化物超导体的研制

我们制得了高Tc的YBaCuO超导体。样品用名义组分为YBa_2Cu_3O_x的原料经高温陶瓷烧结工艺获得。电阻测试得样品的临界温度Tc=91K,转变宽度△T=1.4K(10-90％电阻)。磁化强度测量证明完全抗磁区占85％的体积。样品制成隧道结在液N_2中观测到约瑟夫逊效应。     

High critical currents in iron-clad superconducting MgB2 wires

Technically useful bulk superconductors must have high transport critical current densities, Jc, at operating temperatures. They also require a normal metal cladding to provide parallel electrical conduction, thermal stabilization, and mechanical protection of the generally brittle superconductor cores. The recent discovery of superconductivity at 39 K in magnesium diboride (MgB2) presents a new possibility for significant bulk applications, but many critical issues relevant for practical wires remain unresolved. In particular, MgB2 is mechanically hard and brittle and therefore not amenable to drawing into the desired fine-wire geometry. Even the synthesis of moderately dense, bulk MgB2 attaining 39 K superconductivity is a challenge because of the volatility and reactivity of magnesium. Here we report the successful fabrication of dense, metal-clad superconducting MgB2 wires, and demonstrate a transport Jc in excess of 85,000 A cm-2 at 4.2 K. Our iron-clad fabrication technique takes place at ambient pressure, yet produces dense MgB2 with little loss of stoichiometry. While searching for a suitable cladding material, we found that other materials dramatically reduced the critical current, showing that although MgB2 itself does not show the 'weak-link' effect characteristic of the high-Tc superconductors, contamination does result in weak-link-like behaviour.     

Addition of nanoparticle dispersions to enhance flux pinning of the YBa2Cu3O7-x superconductor

Following the discovery of type-II high-temperature superconductors in 1986 (refs 1, 2), work has proceeded to develop these materials for power applications. One of the problems, however, has been that magnetic flux is not completely expelled, but rather is contained within magnetic fluxons, whose motion prevents larger supercurrents. It is known that the critical current of these materials can be enhanced by incorporating a high density of extended defects to act as pinning centres for the fluxons. YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO or 123) is the most promising material for such applications at higher temperatures (liquid nitrogen). Pinning is optimized when the size of the defects approaches the superconducting coherence length ( approximately 2-4 nm for YBCO at temperatures < or =77 K) and when the areal number density of defects is of the order of (H/2) x 10(11) cm(-2), where H is the applied magnetic field in tesla. Such a high density has been difficult to achieve by material-processing methods that maintain a nanosize defect, except through irradiation. Here we report a method for achieving a dispersion of approximately 8-nm-sized nanoparticles in YBCO with a high number density, which increases the critical current (at 77 K) by a factor of two to three for high magnetic fields.     

Enhancement of the high-magnetic-field critical current density of superconducting MgB2 by proton irradiation

Magnesium diboride, MgB2, has a relatively high superconducting transition temperature, placing it between the families of low- and high-temperature (copper oxide based) superconductors. Supercurrent flow in MgB2 is unhindered by grain boundaries, making it potentially attractive for technological applications in the temperature range 20-30 K. But in the bulk material, the critical current density (Jc) drops rapidly with increasing magnetic field strength. The magnitude and field dependence of the critical current are related to the presence of structural defects that can 'pin' the quantized magnetic vortices that permeate the material, and a lack of natural defects in MgB2 may be responsible for the rapid decline of Jc with increasing field strength. Here we show that modest levels of atomic disorder induced by proton irradiation enhance the pinning of vortices, thereby significantly increasing Jc at high field strengths. We anticipate that either chemical doping or mechanical processing should generate similar levels of disorder, and so achieve performance that is technologically attractive in an economically viable way.     

Er-Ba-Cu氧化物的高温超导电性研究

报导以低品位Er_2O_3(纯度91%)为原料,采用固态反应法制备Er-Ba-Cu-O体系超导体大块样品的工艺、高温超导电性测量、X射线粉末衍射和扫描电镜分析的研究结果.     

Effect of Nano-SiC and Nano-Si Doping on Critical Current Density of MgB_2

The discovery of superconductivity in magnesium diboride (MgB2) has opened up a new field in materials science research. It offers a possibility of a new class of high performance superconducting materials for practical applications because of the relatively low cost of fabrication, high critical current densities (Jc) and fields, large coherence length, absence of weak links, higher Tc(TC = 39K) compared with Nb3Sn and Nb-Ti alloys (two or four times that of Nb,,Sn and Nb-Ti alloys). However, the weak flux pinning in the magnetic field remains a major challenge. This paper reports the most interesting results on nanomaterial (SiC and Si) doping in magnesium diboride. The high density of nano-scale defects introduced by doping is responsible for the enhanced pinning. The fabrication method, critical current density, microstructures, flux pinning and cost for magnesium diboride bulks, wires and tapes are also discussed. It is believed that high performance SiC doped MgB2 will have a great potential for m