Abstract One-dimensional c -axis-aligned BaZrO 3 (BZO) nanorods are regarded as strong one-dimensional artificial pinning centers (1D-APCs) in BZO-doped YaBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x (BZO/YBCO) nanocomposite films. However, a microstructure analysis has revealed a defective, oxygen-deficient YBCO column around the BZO 1D-APCs due to the large lattice mismatch of ∼7.7% between the BZO (3a = 1.26 nm) and YBCO (c = 1.17 nm), which has been blamed for the reduced pinning efficiency of BZO 1D-APCs. Herein, we report a dynamic lattice enlargement approach on the tensile strained YBCO lattice during the BZO 1D-APCs growth to induce c -axis elongation of the YBCO lattice up to 1.26 nm near the BZO 1D-APC/YBCO interface via Ca/Cu substitution on single Cu-O planes of YBCO, which prevents the interfacial defect formation by reducing the BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch to ∼1.4%. Specifically, this is achieved by inserting thin Ca 0.3 Y 0.7 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7− x (CaY-123) spacers as the Ca reservoir in 2–6 vol.% BZO/YBCO nanocomposite multilayer (ML) films. A defect-free, coherent BZO 1D-APC/YBCO interface is confirmed in transmission electron microscopy and elemental distribution analyses. Excitingly, up to five-fold enhancement of J c ( B ) at magnetic field B = 9.0 T// c -axis and 65 K–77 K was obtained in the ML samples as compared to their BZO/YBCO single-layer (SL) counterpart’s. This has led to a record high pinning force density F p together with significantly enhanced B max at which F p reaches its maximum value F p,max for BZO 1D-APCs at B // c -axis. At 65 K, the F p,max ∼158 GN m −3 and B max ∼ 8.0 T for the 6% BZO/YBCO ML samples represent a significant enhancement over F p,max ∼ 36.1 GN m −3 and B max ∼ 5.0 T for the 6% BZO/YBCO SL counterparts. This result not only illustrates the critical importance of a coherent BZO 1D-APC/YBCO interface in the pinning efficiency, but also provides a facile scheme to achieve such an interface to restore the pristine pinning efficiency of the BZO 1D-APCs.
more »
« less
This content will become publicly available on May 1, 2025
Enhanced Pinning in a Broad Angular Range by 1D-APCs With a Coherent Interface
One-dimensional artificial pinning centers (1D-APCs) in YBa2Cu3O7-x nanocomposite films provide strong collective pinning at magnetic field B//c-axis. In this work, we reveal a 1D-APC/YBa2Cu3O7-x interface is preferred for high pinning efficiency of individual 1D-APCs including BaHfO3 and BaZrO3. The coherent 1D-APC/YBa2Cu3O7-x interface may be obtained via either growth of the nanocomposite films at optimal condition or Ca-diffusion to dynamically reduce the interface strain during the nanocomposite film growth. Interestingly, the high pinning efficiency of the 1D-APCs with coherent interfaces with YBCO not only lead to a high critical current density (Jc) in magnetic fields up to 9.0 T at H//c-axis but also enhanced Jc over a larger angular range when H is away from H//c-axis up to θ=60-80 degree than that in the case the interface is defective. This result suggests the importance of understanding and engineering the APC/YBCO interface for optimal pinning in nanocomposite films.
more »
« less
- PAR ID:
- 10521259
- Publisher / Repository:
- IEEE
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
- Volume:
- 34
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 1051-8223
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 6
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
more » « less
Abstract BaZrO3(BZO) one-dimensional artificial pinning centers (1D-APCs) aligned along the
c -axis of the YBa2Cu3O7(YBCO) have been adopted to enhance the magnetic vortex pinning in BZO/YBCO nanocomposite films. However, the pinning force densityF pof the BZO 1D-APCs remains moderate at temperatures near 77 K. A hypothesis of the major limiting factor is the defective BZO 1D-APCs/YBCO interface as a direct consequence of the large interfacial strain originated from the BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch of ∼7.7%. Herein, we explore enlarging thec -axis of the YBCO dynamically to reduce the lattice mismatch and hence to prevent formation of the defective BZO 1D-APCs/YBCO interface. Specifically, thec- axis enlargement was achieved by partial replacement of Cu with Ca on the YBCO lattice using strain-directed Ca diffusion into YBCO from two Ca0.3Y0.7Ba2Cu3O7− x (CaY-123) spacers of only 10 nm in thickness inserted into the 2 vol% BZO 1D-APC/YBCO nanocomposite thin films of ∼150 nm in total thickness. The achieved elongatedc -axis is attributed to the formation of stacking faults induced by Ca-replacement of Cu on YBCO lattice. The reduced BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch allows formation of a coherent BZO 1D-APC/YBCO interface with negligible defects. This leads to an enhancedF pvalue up to 98 GN m−3at 65 K, which is 70% higher than that of the reference 2 vol% BZO 1D-APC/YBCO sample. Furthermore, the benefit of the enhanced pinning of the BZO 1D-APCs with a coherent interface with YBCO can be extended to a large angular range of the magnetic field orientation. This study reveals the significant effect of the BZO/YBCO interface on the pinning efficiency of BZO 1D-APCs and provides a promising approach to achieve a coherent interface in BZO/YBCO nanocomposite films. -
Abstract Microstructural analysis of the BaZrO 3 (BZO)/YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO) interface has revealed a highly defective and oxygen deficient 2-3 nm thick YBCO column surrounding the BZO one-dimensional artificial pinning centers (1D-APCs). The resulting semi-coherent interface is the consequence of the ∼7.7% BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch and is responsible for the low pinning efficiency of BZO 1D-APCs. Herein, we report an interface engineering approach of dynamic Ca/Cu replacement on YBCO lattice to reduce/eliminate the BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch for improved pinning at a wide angular range of the magnetic field orientation. The Ca/Cu replacement induces a local elongation of the YBCO c-lattice near the BZO/YBCO interface, thereby ensuring a reduction in the BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch to ∼1.4% and a coherent BZO/YBCO interface. This has resulted in enhanced pinning at B//c-axis and a broad angular range of B-field orientation. For example, the 6 vol.% BZO/YBCO film with interface engineering exhibits F p ∼158 GN/m 3 at 65 K and B//c-axis, which is 440% higher than the ∼36.1 GN/m 3 for the reference 6% BZO/YBCO sample, and enhanced J c and F p in a wide angular range up to ∼ 80°. This result illustrates a facile scheme for engineering 1D-APC/YBCO interface to resume the pristine pinning efficiency of the 1D-APCs.more » « less
-
Temperature dependent pinning efficiency in multilayer and single layer BZO/YBCO nanocomposite filmsAbstract The BaZrO 3 /YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (BZO/YBCO) interface has been found to affect the vortex pinning efficiency of one-dimensional artificial pinning centers (1D-APC) of BZO. A defective BZO/YBCO interface due to a lattice mismatch of ∼7.7% has been blamed for the reduced pinning efficiency. Recently, we have shown incorporating Ca 0.3 Y 0.7 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7-x spacer layers in BZO/YBCO nanocomposite film in multilayer (ML) format can lead to a reduced lattice mismatch ∼1.4% through the enlargement of lattice constant of YBCO via Ca diffusion and partial Ca/Cu replacement on Cu-O planes. In this work, the effect of this interface engineering on the BZO 1D-APC pinning efficiency is investigated at temperatures of 65-81 K through a comparison between 2 and 6 vol.% BZO/YBCO ML samples with their single-layer (SL) counterparts. An overall higher pinning force ( F p ) density has been observed on the ML samples as compared to their SL counterparts. Specifically, the peak value of F p ( F p,max ) for the 6% BZO/YBCO ML film is about ∼ 4 times of that of its SL counterpart at 65 K. In addition, the location of the F p,max ( B max ) in the ML samples shifts to higher values as a consequence of enhanced pinning. For the 6% BZO/YBCO ML sample, a much smaller “plateau-like” decrease of the B max with increasing temperature was observed, which is in contrast to approximately linear decrease of B max with increasing temperature in the 6% SL film. This result indicates the importance of restoring the BZO/YBCO interface quality for better pinning efficiency of BZO 1D-APCs especially at higher BZO doping concentration.more » « less
-
more » « less
Abstract C-axis aligned BaZrO3(BZO) nanorods formed via strain-mediated self-assembly in BZO-doped YaBa2Cu3O7-x(BZO/YBCO) nanocomposite films can provide strong pinning to the quantized magnetic vortices. While the strain initiated from the BZO/YBCO lattice mismatch plays a critical role in nucleation and evolution of the BZO nanorods, it also leads to a highly defective BZO/YBCO interface and hence reduced pinning efficiency of BZO nanorods. This work reports a recent study in probing the effect of BZO/YBCO interface on the pinning efficiency of the BZO nanorods as the interface is repaired dynamically during the BZO nanorod growth using Ca doping. Within the BZO doping range of 2-8 vol.%, significantly enhanced pinning efficiency of the BZO nanorods have been observed. A peak enhancement up to five-fold of critical current density at 9.0 T and 65-77 K has been obtained in the 6 vol.% BZO/YBCO nanocomposites after the interface repair. This result not only illustrates the critical importance of the BZO/YBCO interface in the pinning efficiency, but also provides a facile scheme to achieve such an interface to restore the pristine pinning efficiency of the BZO nanorods.
