This article is cited in 20 papers

Superconductivity

Effect of low-temperature annealing on the critical parameters of highly textured YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$

I. B. Bobylev, E. G. Gerasimov, N. A. Zyuzeva

Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg

Abstract: The effect of treatment at a temperature of 200$^\circ$C and the natural aging on the critical parameters of a highly textured yttrium barium cuprate YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6.9}$ has been investigated. It has been shown that non-superconducting (at $T$ = 77 K) particles precipitated during phase decomposition of this compound are effective pinning centers. At 200$^\circ$C, the YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ compound interacts with atmospheric moisture. This inter-action results in the formation of stacking faults, which also provide pinning of magnetic vortices. The structural changes occurring during low-temperature annealing and natural aging of the compound lead to an increase in the critical current density and the first critical field. The presence of pinning centers of different nature in the structure causes a synergistic effect, which significantly increases the current-carrying capacity of materials, including those in strong magnetic fields.

Received: 11.01.2012
Accepted: 23.01.2012

 English version: Physics of the Solid State, 2012, 54:9, 1741–1746

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