Reduced granularity in BHO-doped YBCO films on RABiTS templates. (1st October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holleis, Sigrid; Shipulin, Ilya A; Hühne, Ruben; Bernardi, Johannes; Eisterer, Michael
• Is Part Of: Superconductor science & technology. Volume 35:Number 10(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-01
• Subjects: HTS -- cuprates -- YBCO -- APCs -- granularity -- SHPM; Superconductivity -- Periodicals; Superconductors -- Periodicals; 537.623
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6668/ac883c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-2048

Abstract

Abstract: REBCO based coated conductors (CCs) are a viable alternative to conventional superconductors for many applications, therefore the optimization of their current carrying capacity is an ongoing process. A promising route for the increase in performance is the introduction of artificial pinning centers such as BaHfO3 (BHO) nanoparticles. However, granularity still imposes a substantial performance limitation, especially in REBCO CCs deposited on RABiTS based templates, as the critical current density is severely reduced by moderate misalignment angles of adjacent grains. A combined study of scanning Hall probe microscopy and electron microscopy of undoped and BHO-doped YBa2 Cu3 O7- δ (YBCO) films on technical templates shows that BHO-doping leads to a denser microstructure of the superconducting layer and higher global and local critical current densities. The statistical evaluation of local current maps allows for a quantification of the magnetic granularity where a reduction of granularity with increasing film thickness, doping and increasing temperature is found. In particular, the dependence of granularity on the film thickness and enhanced film growth through BHO-doping shows the potential for further optimization of YBCO films on RABiTS based templates.