Microstructures of superconducting joint between GdBa₂Cu₃O<i> _y </i>-coated conductors via additionally deposited precursor films

Abstract

Superconducting joints have been demanded to lengthen REBa2Cu3O y -coated conductors for electrical power applications. In this study, we propose a new joint method for GdBa2Cu3O y -coated conductors via crystallizing precursor films additionally deposited on the conductors. Two GdBa2Cu3O y -coated conductors with precursor films were placed in a face-to-face manner in a furnace, then they were crystallized under mechanical pressure to joint them. A superconducting joint was achieved with a high critical temperature of 90.8 K. Microstructural observation by a transmission electron microscope revealed that there were only a few pores at the joint boundary without a secondary phase having c-axis-oriented GdBa2Cu3O y .