Earticle

We investigated the effect of Fe3O4 addition on the critical temperature of (Bi, Pb)-2223 polycrystalline samples. Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ + x wt. % Fe3O4 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) samples were prepared by using a solid-state reaction method. The analysis of X-ray diffraction data indicates that as Fe3O4 is added, dominant phase of the sample changes from Bi-2223 to Bi-2212 with an increasing Bi-2201 phase. The transition temperature of the samples drastically decreased with the Fe3O4 addition. The resistance data of samples with x = 0.2 and 0.4 showed a double transition indicating a coexistence of Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 phase while the samples with x = 0.6 and 0.8 showed a single transition with a semiconducting behavior. This phase transition may originate from changes in local structure of the Bi-2223 system by Fe3O4 addition. Analysis of the pair distribution function of the Cu-O pair in the CuO2 plane calculated from extended X-ray absorption fine structure data revealed that the oxygen coordination of copper ion changes from CuO4 planar type (x = 0.0 - 0.4) to CuO5 pyramidal type (x = 0.6, 0.8). The correlated Debye-Waller factor, providing information on the atomic disorder within the CuO2 plane, shows an inverse relation to the coordination number. These results indicate that addition of Fe3O4 changes the oxygen distribution around Cu in the CuO2 plane, causing a phase transition from Bi-2223 to more stable Bi-2212/Bi-2201 phases.

Iron-based superconductors (IBSs) possess nematic phases in which rotational symmetry of the electronic structure is spontaneously broken. This novel phase has attracted much attention as it is believed to be closely linked to the superconductivity. However, observation of the symmetry broken phase by using a macroscopic experimental tool is a hard task because of naturally formed twin domains. Here, we report on a novel detwinning method by using a magnetic field on FeTe single crystal. Detwinning effect was measured by resistivity anisotropy using the Montgomery method. Our results show that FeTe was detwinned at 2T, which is a relatively weak field compared to the previously reported result. Furthermore, detwinning effect is retained even when the field is turned off after field cooling, making it an external stimulation-free detwinning method.

We performed Raman spectroscopy on two different over-doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (BSCCO), of which superconducting transition temperatures are 89 K and 77 K. Line-shape analysis of the Raman-spectrum was done, focused on B1g bond buckling mode which have drawn a lot of attention, since photoemission studies showed an evidence for strong coupling between the mode and electron. The line-shapes show asymmetry and are well fitted by the Fano line-shape formula. Remarkably, we found that the peak line-widths from B1g bond buckling mode in BSCCO show much broader than those in YBa2Cu3O7−x. The broad line width can be attributed to the superstructure modulation of BSCCO. Our results imply that B1g bond buckling mode may have close relation to the origin of superconductivity or to boosting the superconducting transition temperature in BSCCO.

Superconducting junctions of topological insulator (TI) are expected to host Majorana bound state, which is essential for developing topological quantum information devices. In this study, we fabricated Josephson junctions (JJs) made of Sb-doped Bi2Se3 TI nanoribbon and PbIn superconducting electrodes. In the normal state, the axial magnetoresistance data exhibit periodic oscillations, so-called Aharonov-Bohm oscillations, due to a metallic surface state of TI nanoribbon. At low temperature of 1.5 K, the TI JJ reveals the superconducting proximity effects, such as the critical current and multiple Andreev reflections. Under the application of microwave, integer Shapiro steps are observed with satisfying the ac Josephson relation. Our observations indicate that highly-transparent superconducting contacts are formed at the interface between TI nanoribbon and conventional superconductor, which would be useful to explore Majorana bound state in TI.

A large grain YBCO bulk superconductor is fabricated by the top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) method. In the TSMG process, the seed crystal is placed on the top surface of a partially melted compact and therefore the seed crystal is frequently tilted during the melt process due to intrinsic unstable nature of Y211 particle +liquid phase mixture. In this work, we report the successful growth of single-domain YBCO bulk superconductors by a bottom-seeded melt growth (BSMG) method. Investigations on the trapped magnetic field and the microstructures of the synthesized specimens show that a bottom-seeded melt growth method has hardly affected on the crystal growth behavior, the microstructure development and the magnetic properties of the large grain YBCO bulk superconductors. The bottom-seeded melt growth method is clearly beneficial for the stable control of seed orientation through the melt process for the fabrication of a large grain YBCO bulk superconductor.

Despite the second generation HTS tapes (2G HTS tape) have limits in critical current value, scientific and electric devices require more current density day after day. These requirements are realized by using different superconducting wires that consist of 2G HTS tapes designed in various combinations. Authors of this paper have developed the numerical model for estimation of total critical current in the superconducting wire and critical current in each 2G HTS tape placed in this superconducting wire. The current drop in six 2G HTS tapes having different constructions was analyzed. The result of this research is the decrease of critical current up to 25 % for the stack of tapes and up to 5 % for the parallel tapes in the same plane. In addition, what was also made is the estimation of the current distribution by length for six 25 m 2G HTS tapes in different constructions and determination of current deviation by length of the wire.

2G HTS wire with high engineering current density is desired for applications where compact, high power density superconducting equipment is important. We have succeeded in enhancing engineering current density of commercial SuperOx 2G HTS wire based on GdBCO by increasing the HTS layer thickness without fast degradation of the HTS film microstructure. This was possible after improving the temperature uniformity along the HTS film deposition zone. In particular, the wire engineering current density was increased from 700-770 A/mm2 (for a 65 μm-thick wire without stabilisation) or 430-480 A/mm2 (for a 105 μm-thick stabilised wire) at the beginning of this study to almost 1200 A/mm2 (for a 67 μm-thick wire without stabilisation) or 770 A/mm2 (for a 107 μm-thick stabilised wire) at completion of this study.

Multilayered high-temperature superconductor coated conductor (CC) tapes are used in an extensive range of applications and are exposed to many stresses such as hoop stress, radial/transverse tensile stress under large Lorentz forces, and thermal stress while cooling if thermal expansion properties differ. Loads induced transversely at the tape surface inevitably create delamination phenomena in the multilayered CC tapes. Thus, delamination behaviors of CC tapes along the c-axis under transverse loading conditions, which can vary based on manufacturing process and constituent layers, must be characterized for applications. The anvil test method was used to mechanically investigate the delamination characteristics of various commercially available Ag-stabilized CC tapes at room temperature and 77 K, finding superior strength at the latter. The wide variations found depended on tape structure and fabrication technique. Fractographic morphologies of delaminated tapes supported the findings under transverse loading conditions.