Co-addition of insulator-conductor (Dy2O3-Ag) nanoparticles as efficient pinning centers for YBa2Cu3O7-d superconducting ceramic

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2025-02, Vol.182, p.113134, Article 113134
• Main Authors: Alharbi, Ghadeer M., Slimani, Yassine, Almessiere, Munirah A., Azzouz, Faten Ben
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Critical current density; Dy2O3-Ag nanoparticles; Flux pinning properties; Superconducting properties; YBa2Cu3O7-d superconductor
• ISSN: 0025-5408
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2024.113134

•YBa2Cu3O7−d (YBCO) superconductor ceramics co-added with Dy2O3 and Ag nanoparticles were studied.•Co-adding Dy2O3 and Ag NPs into YBCO enhance the superconducting and pinning properties of host material.•Simultaneous doping of Dy2O3 and Ag NPs ameliorate the current density of boundaries network.•The critical current density was greatly enhanced by > 330 % for at H = 3 Tesla and 450 % at H = 5 Tesla upon the co-addition of Dy2O3 and Ag nanoparticles. The single inclusion of nanoparticles (NPs) into high-temperature superconductor materials was widely reported and proved its ability to enhance the pinning properties. The current research work aims to evaluate the influence of the combined addition effect of conductor (Ag) and insulator (Dy2O3) NPs on the structure, morphology, critical current densities, and flux pinning properties of Ya2Cu3O7-d (Y123) superconducting ceramics. We established that adding this route has a positive effect on the superconducting and pinning properties of the material. Specifically, it is observed that the co-addition of Dy2O3-Ag-NPs substantially enhances the critical current density by >330 % for in-field up to 3 Tesla and by 450 % for in-field up to 5 Tesla as compared to the pristine Y123 sample. Moreover, the energy of the centers that pin the vortex was strengthened and the critical current density at grain boundaries has also risen by more than ten times. [Display omitted]