Superior properties of SmBCO coated conductors at high magnetic fields and elevated temperatures

In addition to the well investigated YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (Y-123, YBCO) compound, many other rare earth-123 compounds are candidate materials for the production of coated conductors. Sm-123 seems to be an excellent alternative because of its higher transition temperature (T_c) and higher critical current densities (J_c) in external magnetic fields. Because of the fast decrease of J_c in YBCO at elevated temperatures, especially around the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, the slightly higher T_c can be an important advantage. Recently, significant progress has been made in the production of long length Sm-123 based coated conductors. We report here on transport measurements on these conductors in the liquid nitrogen temperature range. The critical current densities were determined as a function of the applied field and the crystallographic orientation under maximum Lorentz force configuration. A shift of the c-axis (～7°) from the tape normal was found. The conductor properties were compared to those of commercially available YBCO coated conductors. The critical current densities as well as the irreversibility fields are higher in the SmBCO tapes, thus demonstrating the superior properties of the Sm-123 compound.     

Improvement of spatial homogeneity in GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductor

Recent process optimization allows improving homogeneity and a significant increase of J_c in GdBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ deposited on ion-beam assisted deposited MgO template (GdBCO/IBAD-MgO). We applied low-temperature laser scanning microscopy and laser scanning thermo-electric microscopy (LSTEM) to investigate local dissipation and defects simultaneously in recent GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductor. By using high-resolution LSTEM, we could detect current blocking obstacles which are responsible for the large scale local dissipation. Data on the present GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductors point out a significant reduction of current blocking obstacles compared to the previous process. We have shown the improvement of spatial homogeneity in the recent GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductors. Current blocking obstacles are much less densely distributed as compared to previous YBCO/IBAD-GZO coated conductor. Obstacles larger than several micrometer significantly increase local dissipation whereas smaller defects do not influence it noticeably. 2D map of the phase delay component of the thermoelectric voltage lock-in signal is effective to analyze current blocking obstacles having action upon local dissipation.     

Transport and AC loss properties of the repaired multifilamentary REBCO superconducting tapes

For near-future applications of REBa₂Cu₃O₇ (REBCO) coated conductors to electric power cables, transformers and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES), the long taped wires with high performance in the transport properties have been designed and fabricated. Moreover, in order to drastically reduce AC losses in perpendicular field configuration, advanced multifilament YBCO coated conductors (MFYCCs) fabricated with technique of a laser scribing process have been also developed. In the present study, from engineering viewpoints to utilize such advanced conductors, we evaluated the transport and AC loss properties of short MFYCCs with a repaired part or a joint by a diffusion joint technique with the saddle-shaped pickup coil method.     

Microstructure of YBCO thin films prepared by TFA-MOD method

The microstructure of the recently developed coated conductors was investigated by using electron back scatter diffraction pattern (EBSP). We prepared TFA (trifluoroacetates)-MOD (metal organic deposition) derived YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x (YBCO) films on CeO₂/LaMnO₃/IBAD-MgO/Gd₂Zr₂O₇/Hastelloy C276 substrates of 1 cm-width. The EBSP observation showed that there was a difference of surface microstructure between the midsection and the end of TFA-MOD YBCO film layer in the direction of width. This is attributed not to the local difference of the biaxial texture of CeO₂ top layer but to the local difference of growth condition during TFA-MOD process.     

A simple MOD method to grow a single buffer layer of Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 (CGO) for coated conductors

A single Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_1.9 (CGO) buffer layer was successfully grown on the home-made textured Ni–5 at.%W (Ni–5W) substrates for YBCO coated conductors by a simple metal–organic deposition (MOD) technique. The precursor solution was prepared using a newly developed process and only contained common metal–organic salts of both Ce and Gd dissolved into a propionic acid solvent. The precursor solution at 0.4 M concentration was spin coated on short samples of Ni–5W substrates and heat-treated at 1100 °C in a mixture gas of 5% H₂ in Ar for an hour. X-ray studies indicated that the CGO films had good out-of-plane and in-plane textures with full-width-half-maximum values of 4.18° and 6.19°, respectively. Atomic force microscope (AFM) investigations of the CGO films revealed that most of the grain boundary grooves on the Ni–5W surface were found to be well covered by CGO layers, which had a fairly dense and smooth microstructure without cracks and porosity. These results indicate that our MOD technique is very promising for further development of single buffer layer architecture for YBCO coated conductors, due to its low cost and simple process.     

YBCO films buffered by pyrochlore Nd2Mo2O7 layer on YSZ substrates by chemical solution deposition

A chemical solution deposition process was used to grow epitaxial Nd₂Mo₂O₇ (NMO) buffer layers on YSZ substrates to produce YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (YBCO) coated conductors. The NMO precursor solution prepared using metal acetylacetonates was spin-coated onto single crystal YSZ substrate of 10 mm × 10 mm in size at 3000 rpm for 30 s and heat-treated at 1000 °C for 2 h in Ar after calcinated at 550 °C for 1 h. The YBCO film was deposited by TFA-MOD route on top of the NMO/YSZ architecture. The phase purity and the crystalline orientation of NMO and YBCO films were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to observe their microstructure and their surface roughness. The critical current density (J_c) of YBCO film on NMO/YSZ is 1.8 MA/cm² at 77 K in self-field, which indicates that the Nd₂Mo₂O₇ is a potential buffer for YBCO coated conductor.     

Flux pinning by discontinuous columnar defects in 74 MeV Ag-irradiated YBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors

Linear damage tracks are created in production-quality YBCO coated conductors by irradiation with 61–74 MeV Ag ions. The ion tracks are observed by transmission electron microscopy to be elongated but discontinuous. The in-field transport critical current (I_c) is enhanced significantly for fields applied parallel to the irradiation direction with a broad peak appearing in the magnetic field-angle dependence of the critical current, coinciding with the irradiation direction. The zero-field I_c is typically reduced somewhat, however annealing at 200 °C partially restores this and enhances the in-field I_c even for field parallel to the irradiation direction. Lower energies tend to produce a weaker peak, but also retain the zero-field I_c to a greater extent, consistent with a trend of greater discontinuity in the ion tracks.     

Experimental study of yttrium barium copper oxide superconducting tape’s critical current under twisting moment

Critical current (I _c) characteristics of 2G YBCO superconducting tape under the influence of twisting moment was experimentally investigated at varying current ramp rates in the self-field. Under a uniform twist, the degradation in the current-carrying capacity of YBCO tape up to 30% was observed at 77 K. The degradation is largely attributed to the shear stress and torsional shear strain resulting from the twisting. The superconductor to resistive transition index, n, is also found to behave in an identical manner with increase in the twisting. Finite element analysis (FEA) of the tape in the experimental configuration with twisting moment being applied on to it has been carried out in COMSOL. The torsional strain calculated analytically as per the experimental configuration matches closely with that of FEA results, which shows that the critical current degradation is a function of strain.     

NMR experiment on high-T c oxides at Tokyo Metropolitan University

NMR experiments on high-T _c oxides done at Tokyo Metropolitan University are reviewed. The first is⁸⁹Y NMR in YBCO with Y site dilutely substituted by Gd ions. The second isT ₂ ^t-1 of^63,65Cu NQR in YBCO. The third is¹H NMR from probe material coated on YBCO and BSCCO.     

Reel-to-reel fabrication of meter-long YBCO coated conductor

YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (YBCO) superconductors were coated on the CeO₂/YSZ/Y₂O₃ buffered Ni-5at%W tapes by a reel-to-reel pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The process of a multi-layer deposition of YBCO film was explored. X-ray diffraction texture measurements showed good both in-plane and out of plane crystalline orientations in YBCO films. The average values calculated at a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peaks from phi-scans (φ) and omega (ω) scans for one meter-long YBCO tape were 7.49° and 4.71°, respectively. The critical current (I_c) was over 200 A/cm-width at 77 K and under self-field for meter-long YBCO tape. The critical transition temperature of the YBCO tape was typically as 90.1 K with 0.5 K transition widths.     

Solderability study of RABiTS-based YBCO coated conductors

The solderability of commercially available YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (YBCO) coated conductors that were made from Rolling Assisted Biaxially Textured Substrates (RABiTS)-based templates was studied. The coated conductors, also known as second-generation (2G) high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires (in the geometry of flat tapes about 4 mm wide), were laminated with copper, brass, or stainless steel strips as stabilizers. To understand the factors that influence their solderability, surface profilometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the wire surfaces. The solderability of three solders, 52In48Sn, 67Bi33In, and 100In (wt.%), was evaluated using a standard test (IPC/ECA J-STD-002) and with two different commercial fluxes. It was found that the solderability varied with the solder and flux but the three different wires showed similar solderability for a fixed combination of solder and flux. Solder joints of the 2G wires were fabricated using the tools and the procedures recommended by the HTS wire manufacturer. The solder joints were made in a lap-joint geometry and with the superconducting sides of the two wires face-to-face. The electrical resistances of the solder joints were measured at 77 K, and the results were analyzed to qualify the soldering materials and evaluate the soldering process. It was concluded that although the selection of soldering materials affected the resistance of a solder joint, the resistivity of the stabilizer was the dominant factor.     

Modified Lanthanum Zirconium Oxide buffer layers for low-cost,high performance YBCO coated conductors

The pyrochlore Lanthanum Zirconium Oxide, La₂Zr₂O₇ (LZO), has been developed as a potential replacement barrier layer in the standard RABiTS three-layer architecture of physical vapor deposited CeO₂ cap/YSZ barrier/Y₂O₃ seed on Ni–5%W metal tape. The main focus of this research is to ascertain whether: (i) we can further improve the barrier properties of LZO; (ii) we can modify the LZO cation ratio and still achieve a high level of performance; and (iii) it is possible to reduce the number of buffer layers. We report a systematic investigation of the LZO film growth with varying compositions of La:Zr ratio in the La₂O₃–ZrO₂ system. Using a metal–organic deposition (MOD) process, we have grown smooth, crack-free, epitaxial thin films of La_xZr_1?xO_y (x = 0.2–0.6) on standard Y₂O₃ buffered Ni–5W substrates in short lengths. Detailed XRD studies indicate that a single epitaxial LZO phase with only (0 0 1) texture can be achieved in a broad compositional range of x = 0.2–0.6 in La_xZr_1?xO_y. Both CeO₂ cap layers and MOD–YBCO films were grown epitaxially on these modified LZO barriers. High critical currents per unit width, I_c of 274–292 A/cm at 77 K and self-field were achieved for MOD–YBCO films grown on La_xZr_1?xO_y (x = 0.4–0.6) films. These results indicate that LZO films can be grown with a broad compositional range and still support high performance YBCO coated conductors. In addition, epitaxial MOD La_xZr_1?xO_y (x = 0.25) films were grown directly on biaxially textured Ni–3W substrates. About 3 μm thick YBCO films grown on a single MOD–LZO buffered Ni–3W substrates using pulsed laser deposition show a critical current density, J_c, of 0.55 MA/cm² (I_c of 169 A/cm) at 77 K and 0.01 T. This work holds promise for a route for producing simplified buffer architecture for RABiTS based YBCO coated conductors.     

30 mm wide process of GdBCO PLD/clad-type textured metal substrates

Gd₁Ba₂Cu₃O_x (GdBCO) coated conductors using bi-axially textured clad-type substrates have been developed for high temperatures superconducting (HTS) power cables. In this project, large amount of coated conductors (CCs) are necessary for the several tests of basic properties of HTS power cables and the fabrication of a 15 m long 3-in-one HTS model cable. In order to ensure an adequate amount and properties of coated conductors, the stable manufacturing technology and the high production rate at each process are required.In this report, we have newly installed a high power laser of 300 W for the PLD system, resulting in improvement of the manufacturing stability and the deposition rate for GdBCO film. In addition, we have optimized target–substrate distance in PLD process, and the uniformity of I_c distribution across 30 mm wide tapes were remarkably improved. Furthermore, the surface morphology of buffer layers were enhanced by optimizing the deposition condition using electron beam (EB) evaporation method, and the maximum I_c value for a short sample has achieved 497 A/cm at 77 K in the self-field. Based on these progresses, we are currently developing the stable manufacturing process for long CCs with over 400 A/cm.     

Development of buffer layers on 30 mm wide textured metal substrates for REBCO coated conductors

We have been studying REBa₂Cu₃O_x (RE: rare earth elements) coated conductors on clad-type substrates. We developed coated conductors on the 10 mm wide clad-type tape, and succeeded in obtaining the maximum critical current of 380 A/cm with the 2.0 μm thick GdBa₂Cu₃O_x superconducting film. At present, we are trying to widen the tape width from 10 mm to 30 mm in order to increase production throughput. We report our recent progress on scaling-up of the buffer layers and their properties.     

IBAD技术制备涂层导体用YSZ缓冲层长带的研究

在钇钡铜氧(YBCO)高温超导涂层导体制备路线中,离子束辅助沉积技术(IBAD)是两大主流技术路线之一,取得了最为突出的研究成果.本文简要介绍了IBAD技术制备YBCO涂层导体的最新研究进展;并采用离子束辅助沉积技术在哈氏合金(Hastelloy)基底上成功制备了1米长具有钇稳定氧化锆(YSZ)缓冲层的金属基带.采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)分析YSZ缓冲层的取向;利用原子力显微镜(AFM)和扫描电镜(FESEM)观察其表面形貌.获得了可以实际应用的IBAD-YSZ/Hastelloy缓冲层长基带,可以在该基带上研制其他缓冲层以制备YBCO高温超导涂层导体带材.     

Influence of tensile damage on V–I curve and critical current of DyBCO coated conductor

The coated conductors are subjected to mechanical and electromagnetic stresses in preparation and service. When the stress is high, the coated layer is damaged, resulting in loss of superconducting property. The present work was carried out to reveal the influence of tensile damage on V–I curve, critical current and n-value of DyBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ coated conductor. The changes of the V–I curve, critical current and n-value with increasing applied tensile strain were measured experimentally. The features of the shift of the V–I curve to the lower current range and increase in its curvature, and accordingly the decrease in critical current and n-value, with increasing applied strain, were detected. For analysis of the experimental results, the model of Fang et al, which treats with the voltage generation due to the current shunting under existent crack, was applied. The experimentally observed features were described satisfactorily.     

Enhanced flux pinning in pulsed laser deposited Y Ba2Cu3O7−δ : BaTiO3 nanocomposite thin films

The effect of incorporation of BaTiO₃(BTO) nanoparticles on the flux pinning properties of pulsed laser deposited YBCO:BTO thin films was studied. Substantial increase in the critical current density (J_C) and the pinning force density (F_p) of the nanocomposite thin films was observed. At 77 K, and zero applied magnetic field, the value of J_C for YBCO and YBCO:BTO (2%) thin films were 2.93 MA/cm² and 6.43 MA/cm², respectively. At the same temperature and an applied magnetic field of 4 T, the value of J_C increases from 3.6×10⁴ A/cm² for YBCO thin film to 2.7×10⁵ A/cm² for YBCO:BTO (2%) nanocomposite thin film. The study of temperature and field dependence of of YBCO and YBCO:BTO thin films indicates similar type of pinning. The lattice mismatch between YBCO and BTO seems to introduce more defects resulting in the improvement of flux pinning properties.     

Degradation of the performance of a YBCO-coated conductor double pancake coil due to epoxy impregnation

Now that YBCO-coated conductors have been commercialized, a number of YBCO coils have been developed. However, their basic performances have not been systematically investigated so far. Here, we demonstrate that of a YBCO double pancake coil. The critical current of an epoxy impregnated YBCO double pancake coil was substantially degraded, i.e. the normal voltage appears above 8 A, only 18% of that for the dry coil. It was inferred that degradation occurs if the cumulative radial stress developed during cool down exceeds the critical transverse stress for the YBCO-coated conductor (typically 10 MPa). Under these conditions, the conductor was debonded at the interface between the buffer layer and YBCO layers, or fractured in the YBCO layer itself, causing cracks on the YBCO layer, resulting in a significant decline of the critical current. These negative effects are suppressed if the coils are dry wound or impregnated with paraffin, as the bonding strengths between turns are negligible and therefore turns are separated if the cumulative radial stress tends to be tensile. For non-circular coils in which epoxy impregnation is inevitable, degradation due to cumulative tensile transverse stress is still the major problem.     

Attenuation of interfacial pinning enhancement in YBCO using a PrBCO buffer layer

Numerous experimental results have suggested that the J_c of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO) films is significantly higher near the film–substrate interface than in the remainder of the film. We previously proposed that this effect is due to interfacial pinning enhancement caused by stress and the resulting misfit dislocations at the heteroepitaxial interface. To test this hypothesis we have used a non-superconducting PrBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (PrBCO) buffer layer to minimize the lattice mismatch with YBCO. We find that the PrBCO layers lower J_c of the 0.4 μm YBCO films in a predictable way, and that, if sufficiently thick (～0.5 μm), they eliminate interfacial enhancement altogether. Our interpretation of this result is that the defects responsible for interfacial enhancement of flux pinning originate at the bottom of the non-superconducting PrBCO layer, which screens the pinning centers from vortices in YBCO. This result demonstrates that the pinning enhancement arises from stress at the film–substrate interface.     

Effects on Jc of pinning center morphology for multiple-in-line-damage in coated conductor and bulk,melt-textured HTS

The properties of discontinuous aligned pinning centers (PCs) created by high-energy heavy-ions are compared for bulk melt-textured and coated conductor HTS. Properties of PCs, which increase J_c (pinning potential and entanglement), and negative properties which decrease J_c (e.g., decreased T_c and percolation paths) are evaluated. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the very large increases in J_c resulting from multiple-in-line-damage (MILD) compared to continuous columnar pinning centers (CCPC). In particular, a mechanism which results in fluxoid entanglement, even for parallel (unsplayed) PCs, is discussed. The same mechanism is found to also account for restoration of much of the pinning potential expected to be lost due to the gaps in MILD PCs. It also accounts for the fact that at high fluence, J_c increases as fluence is increased, instead of decreasing as expected. The very low self-field in coated conductor permits separation of the negative and positive effects of PCs. It is found that parameters developed to quantify the negative effects in bulk melt-textured YBCO, by 63 GeV U²³⁸ ions, successfully describe damage to 2.1 μm thick coated conductor by 1 GeV Ru⁴⁴ ions. Coated conductor at 77 K and self-field is generally known to have J_c about 100 times that of melt-textured YBCO. However, at 77 K and applied field of 1 T, when both forms of HTS are processed with comparable numbers of near-optimum MILD PCs, the difference in J_c is reduced to a factor of 1.3–2. Whereas J_c for melt-textured YBCO increased sharply, by a factor of up to 16.8 for high-fluence MILD PCs, J_c in coated conductor increased by a smaller factor of 2.5–3.0. Nevertheless, 2.1 μm thick coated conductor, with near-optimum MILD PCs, exhibits J_c = 543 kA/cm² at 77 K and applied field of 1.0 T, and I_c = 114 A/cm-width of conductor. This is the highest value we find in the literature. The phenomenology developed indicates that for optimum MILD PCs in coated conductor, J_c ～ 700 ± 70 kA/cm² should be achievable at 77 K, 1.0 T.