Batur, Kübra Nur; Duman, Şeyda; Çakir, Bakiye; Başoğlu, Mehmet; Aydiner, Alev

This study investigates hollow single-crystal top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO or Y123) samples welded with Ag-added TSMG YBCO solder materials produced using NdBCO/YBCO/MgO thin-film seeds. Three main samples and one solder material are produced by the TSMG method. In order to increase the dimensions of the bulk YBCO superconductor, two slices of the solder material and the main samples are stacked on top of each other with the c-axis parallel and welded at 1030 °C. X-ray diffraction patterns, polarized optical photographs, and SEM micrographs are taken to determine the structural properties of the samples. A preferential orientation in the c-axis is observed with a good connection. Low-temperature resistance and magnetization measurements are made for the specimens taken from the welding region. A sharp superconducting transition occurs at 0 T around 93 K for welding regions of W-ab and W-bc specimens. The critical current densities (Jc) are high as in the main samples. At the same time, the Jc values at 77 K and 0 T are found as 1.54 × 104, 1.98 × 104, 2.21 × 104, 2.31 × 104, and 2.36 × 104A cm−2 for the W-a, W-ab, W-b, W-bc, and W-c specimens, respectively. The single-grain feature is not impaired; thus, the absence of additional grain boundaries facilitates the current passage.

Başoğlu, Mehmet; Çakir, Bakiye; Duman, Şeyda; Aydiner, Alev

The Y3Ba5Cu8O18 (Y358) superconductors were produced using the Melt-Powder-Melt-Growth (MPMG) method. In the crystal growth process, Y2O3 powder was used as a substrate in both powder and tablet form. The first sample was produced without using any buffer layer, the second sample was produced with a powdered Y2O3 buffer layer, and the third sample was produced with a tablet-form Y2O3 buffer layer. The effect of the Y2O3 substrate on the structural and physical properties of the Y358 superconductor samples was investigated. Superconducting phases were observed in all samples of Y358 through XRD measurements, confirming their presence. Samples fabricated using the powder and tablet forms of the Y2O3 substrate had a better microstructure than the sample fabricated without a Y2O3 substrate. The highest critical current density (J c) value was obtained at 77 K for the Y358 sample produced with a Y2O3 powder substrate, and the J c value was calculated as 1.2 × 104 A cm–2 according to the Bean model.