Microstructure and superconducting properties of high-rate PLD-derived GdBa2Cu3O7−δ coated conductors with BaSnO3 and BaZrO3 pinning centers

Abstract

Abstract The microstructure of GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− δ based on superconducting tapes with BaSnO 3 and BaZrO 3 artificial pinning centers formed by high-rate pulse laser deposition in SuperOx Japan was studied by scanning/transmission electron microscopy. The artificial pinning centers have adopted columnar morphology with average diameter of about 8 nm (BaSnO 3 -doped sample) and 6.5 nm (BaZrO 3 -doped sample) and density of 500 μ m −2 for the both samples. The average length of the BaSnO 3 nanocolumns is about two times higher than the BaZrO 3 nanocolumns. The angular dependences of critical current in magnetic field up to 1 Tesla at 77 and 65 K have been obtained. The critical current and its anisotropy depend on artificial pinning centers presence and their type. The angular dependence of resistivity in the field up to 9 Tesla was also studied and discussed.