Effects of Cold Working and Annealing on the Microstructure and Critical Current Density of Ag-sheathed BiPbSrCaCuO Superconducting Tapes

Ag-sheathed BiPbSrCaO(2223)superconducting tapes prepared by the powder-in-tube technique were inVeSgated. The Mswt of M layCr and the Jc at 77 K are spengly dspendent on the amouDt of cold wotheg and annchg condition. The Jc bo by uhahal tw aha drawing and rolling. The OPbown annwtg theperawt, boe and coohag de tO madrihe Jc vaiueS were in the range 84()-- 850t, 1bo^2bo h and 50-- loot / h, nyhvejy. The mndum tuSPOrt Jt at 77 K under zero mopetic field was l.33 x l04 A / cm2.

Effects of Y211 phase contents on the critical current density J_c and microstructural analysis in YBCO bulk superconductors

YBCO bulk superconductors were prepared by the solid state reaction andtop-seed-melt-textured growth (TSMTG) process. By using the AC susceptibility measurement, thecritical transition temperature T_c of samples is 91.5 K for the highest value, and the transitionwidth ΔT_c is less than 1 K. The highest magnetization critical current densities J_c achieved 10~6A/cm^2 under 5 T at 10 K and 1.35X10^4 A/cm^2 under 2 T at 70 K (H//c), respectively. The resultscombining the SEM observation indicate that doping of Y211 particles is more effective in improvingthe growth quality of melt-textured YBCO superconductor and in reducing the micro-cracks ofspecimens. Doping of Y_2O_3 powder forms the rod-shaped Y211 particles, but doping of Y211 particlesdirectly to matrix materials forms the spherical Y211 particles mainly. Combining themicrostructures with J_c measurements shows that the interfaces are most important on flux bundlepinning, in which the gradient of free energy is larger than that of other place between the Y211particles and the Y123 matrix materials.

Influence of the electrolyte conductivity on the critical current density and the breakdown voltage

The work investigates influence of the electrolyte conductivity on the onset of partial contact glow discharge electrolysis(CGDE)in a water electrolysis.Critical current density(CCD)and breakdown voltage were measured together with in situ observation of hydrogen bubble behavior,whose influence has not been focused on.For a fixed current during normal electrolysis,hydrogen coalescence adjacent to cathode surface was invigorated at a lower conductivity.Photographic analyses elucidated the hydrogen coalescence characteristics by quantifying size and population of detached hydrogen bubbles.The CCD increased about 104% within given range of conductivity(11.50-127.48 mS·cm^(-1))due to impaired bubble coalescence,which delays hydrogen film formation on the cathode.Meanwhile,decreasing trend of breakdown voltage was measured with increased conductivity showing maximum drop of 74%.It is concluded that onset of partial CGDE is directly affected by hydrodynamic bubble behaviors,whereas the electrolyte conductivity affects the bubble formation characteristics adjacent to cathode electrode.

A new model analysis of the third harmonic voltage in inductive measurement for critical current density of superconducting films＊

The critical current density Jc is one of the most important parameters of high temperature superconducting films in superconducting applications, such as superconducting filter and superconducting Josephson devices. This paper presents a new model to describe inhomogeneous current distribution throughout the thickness of superconducting films applying magnetic field by solving the differential equation derived from Maxwell equation and the second London equation. Using this model, it accurately calculates the inductive third-harmonic voltage when the film applying magnetic field with the inductive measurement for Jc. The theoretic curve is consistent with the experimental results about measuring superconducting film, especially when the third-harmonic voltage just exceeds zero. The Jc value of superconducting films determined by the inductive method is also compared with results raeasured by four-probe transport method. The agreements between inductive method and transport method are very good.

Variance of Critical Current Density with Microstructure by a Special Process

A promising method —“powder in tube”technique was used to fabricate Ag-sheathed Bi-2223 superconductive tapes with high critical current density.After a combination processing of pressing and subsequent heat treatment,we obtained tapes with high degree of texture,good compaction and uniform properties.At 77 K in zero field,J_C was higher than 1×10~4 A/cm^2 while the highest J_C was 1.69×10~4 A/cm^2.SEM and XRD was used to detect the tapes texture,and the relationship be- tween J_C and the degree of texture is discussed.In addition,the reason for obstacling the improvement of J_C is also investigated.

Revealing the potential of apparent critical current density of Li/garnet interface with capacity perturbation strategy

Apparent critical current density(j_(Ac)^(a))of garnet all-solid-state lithium metal symmetric cells(ASSLSCs)is a fundamental parameter for designing all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.Nevertheless,how much the possible maximum apparent current density that a given ASSLSC system can endure and how to reveal this potential still require study.Herein,a capacity perturbation strategy aiming to better measure the possible maximum j_(Ac)^(a)is proposed for the first time.With garnet-based plane-surface structure ASSLSCs as an exemplification,the j_(Ac)^(a)is quite small when the capacity is dramatically large.Under a perturbed capacity of 0.001 mA h cm^(-2),the j_(Ac)^(a)is determined to be as high as 2.35 mA cm^(-2)at room temperature.This investigation demonstrates that the capacity perturbation strategy is a feasible strategy for measuring the possible maximum j_(Ac)^(a)of Li/solid electrolyte interface,and hopefully provides good references to explore the critical current density of other types of electrochemical systems.

Pair-Breaking Critical Current Density of Two-Band Superconductor MgB2

Temperature dependence of tbe pair-breaking critical current density of MgB2, jd（T）, is studied using a two-band Ginzburg-Landau theory. The results are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data for the superconducting magnesium diboride MgB2.

An Inquiry into Two Intriguing Values of the Critical Current Density of Bi-2212

The empirically reported values of the critical current density (jc) of Bi-2212 as 2.4 × 105 (jc1;Sample 1) and 1.0 × 106 A/cm2 (jc2;Sample 2) are intriguing because both of them correspond to the same values of the temperature T = 4.2 K and the applied magnetic field H = 12 × 104 G. This difference is conventionally attributed to such factors—not all of which are quantifiable—as the geometry, dimensions and the nature of dopants and the manners of preparation of the samples which cause their granular structures, grain boundaries, alignment of the grains and so on to differ. Based on the premise that the chemical potential μ subsumes most of these features, given herein is a novel explanation of the said results in terms of the values of μ of the two samples. This paper revisits the problem that was originally addressed in [Malik G.P., Varma V.S. (2020) WJCMP, 10, 53-70] in the more accurate framework of a subsequent paper [Malik G.P., Varma V.S. (2021) JSNM, 34, 1551-1561]. Besides, it distinguishes between the contributions of the electro-electron (e-e) and the hole-hole (h-h) pairs to jc—a feature to which no heed was paid earlier. The essence of our findings is that the jcs of the two samples differ because they are characterized by different values of the primary variables μi and , where is the effective mass of a charge-carrier and me is the free-electron mass and i = 1 and 2 denote Sample 1 and Sample 2, respectively. In the scenario of the charge-carriers being predominantly h-h pairs, the values of these parameters are estimated to be: μ1 ≈ 12.3 meV, η1 ≈ 0.58;μ2 ≈ 22.7 meV, η2 ≈ 0.94. Following from these and similar estimates when the charge-carriers are e-e pairs, given below for each sample are the detailed results for the values of the secondary variables viz. the number density of the charge-carriers and their critical velocity, the number of occupied Landau levels and the magnetic interaction parameter.

High critical current density in Li_(6.4)La_(3)Zr_(1.4)Ta_(0.6)O_(12) electrolyte via interfacial engineering with complex hydride

Garnet-type solid-state batteries(SSBs)are considered to be one of the most promising candidates to realize next-generation lithium metal batteries with high energy density and safety.However,the dendrite-induced short-circuit and the poor interfacial contact impeded the practical application.Herein,interface engineering to achieve low interfacial resistance without high temperature calcination was developed,which Li_(6.4)La_(3)Zr_(1.4)Ta_(0.6)O_(12)(LLZTO)was simply coated with complex hydride(Li_(4)(BH_(4))_(3)I(3L1L))in various mass ratios n(Li_(4)(BH_(4))_(3)I)-(100−n)LLZTO(10≤n≤40).The interfacial conductivity increases by more than three orders of magnitude from 8.29×10^(−6)S·cm^(−1)to 1.10×10^(−2)S·cm^(−1).Symmetric Li cells exhibit a high critical current density(CCD)of 4.0 mA·cm^(−2) and an excellent cycling stability for 200 h at 4.0 mA·cm^(−2).SSBs with polymeric sulfur-polyacrylonitrile(SPAN)cathode achieve a high discharge capacity of 1149 mAh·g^(−1) with a capacity retention of 91%after 100 cycles(0.2 C).This attempt guides a simple yet efficient strategy for obtaining a stable Li/LLZTO interface,which would promote the development of solid-state batteries.

Effect of Nano-SiC and Nano-Si Doping on Critical Current Density of MgB_2

The discovery of superconductivity in magnesium diboride (MgB2) has opened up a new field in materials science research. It offers a possibility of a new class of high performance superconducting materials for practical applications because of the relatively low cost of fabrication, high critical current densities (Jc) and fields, large coherence length, absence of weak links, higher Tc(TC = 39K) compared with Nb3Sn and Nb-Ti alloys (two or four times that of Nb,,Sn and Nb-Ti alloys). However, the weak flux pinning in the magnetic field remains a major challenge. This paper reports the most interesting results on nanomaterial (SiC and Si) doping in magnesium diboride. The high density of nano-scale defects introduced by doping is responsible for the enhanced pinning. The fabrication method, critical current density, microstructures, flux pinning and cost for magnesium diboride bulks, wires and tapes are also discussed. It is believed that high performance SiC doped MgB2 will have a great potential for many practical applications at 5K to 25K up to 5T.

Estimation of critical current density of bulk superconductor with artificial neural network

In the applications of superconducting materials,the critical current density J_(c)(B)is a crucial performance parameter.The conventional method of measuring J_(c)(B)of bulk superconductor is magnetization method.However,there are errors in the estimation of J_(c)(B)in the lower field,and the estimation is not applicable in the region where the magnetic field reverses.In this paper,J_(c)(B)of the bulk superconductor is determined by the hysteresis and magnetostriction loops with artificial neural network(ANN),respectively.Compared with double‐output ANN,the critical current density obtained by single‐output ANN is more accurate.Finally,the prediction results given by the hysteresis and magnetostriction loops are discussed.

Phase Evolution Study and Optimization of the Heat Treatment Process for High Current Capacity Bi-2223 Tapes

Powder in tube process（PIT） was adopted for the fabrication of single filament Bi-2223 tapes, and a heat treatment process including the first heat treatment（HT1）, intermediate rolling（IR）, and second heat treatment（HT2） was performed. The phase evolution mechanism and microstructure changes during these heat treatment processes were systematically discussed. The influences of HT1 parameters on the phase evolution process of Bi-2223 tapes were discussed. With the optimized HT1 process, a proper Bi-2223 content of about 90% was achieved. HT2 process was also optimized by adding a post annealing process. An obvious increase of current capacity was obtained due to the enhancement of intergrain connections. Single filament Bi-2223 tapes with the critical current of Ic-90 A were fabricated with the optimized sintering process.

In-plane current-induced magnetization reversal of Pd/CoZr/MgO magnetic multilayers

High critical current density(>10^(6)A/cm^(2))is one of major obstacles to realize practical applications of the currentdriven magnetization reversal devices.In this work,we successfully prepared Pd/CoZr(3.5 nm)/MgO thin films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and demonstrated a way of reducing the critical current density with a low out-of-plane magnetic field in the Pd/CoZr/MgO stack.Under the assistance of an out-of-plane magnetic field,the magnetization can be fully reversed with a current density of about 10^(4)A/cm^(2).The magnetization reversal is attributed to the combined effect of the out-of-plane magnetic field and the current-induced spin-orbital torque.It is found that the current-driven magnetization reversal is highly relevant to the temperature owing to the varied spin-orbital torque,and the current-driven magnetization reversal will be more efficient in low-temperature range,while the magnetic field is helpful for the magnetization reversal in high-temperature range.

How Does Stacking Pressure Affect the Performance of Solid Electrolytes and All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries?

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries(ASSLMBs)with solid electrolytes(SEs)have emerged as a promising alternative to liquid electrolyte-based Li-ion batteries due to their higher energy density and safety.However,since ASSLMBs lack the wetting properties of liquid electrolytes,they require stacking pressure to prevent contact loss between electrodes and SEs.Though previous studies showed that stacking pressure could impact certain performance aspects,a comprehensive investigation into the effects of stacking pressure has not been conducted.To address this gap,we utilized the Li_(6)PS_(5)Cl solid electrolyte as a reference and investigated the effects of stacking pressures on the performance of SEs and ASSLMBs.We also developed models to explain the underlying origin of these effects and predict battery performance,such as ionic conductivity and critical current density.Our results demonstrated that an appropriate stacking pressure is necessary to achieve optimal performance,and each step of applying pressure requires a specific pressure value.These findings can help explain discrepancies in the literature and provide guidance to establish standardized testing conditions and reporting benchmarks for ASSLMBs.Overall,this study contributes to the understanding of the impact of stacking pressure on the performance of ASSLMBs and highlights the importance of careful pressure optimization for optimal battery performance.

Terahertz high-sensitivity SIS mixer based on Nb–AlN–NbN hybrid superconducting tunnel junctions

The terahertz band,a unique segment of the electromagnetic spectrum,is crucial for observing the cold,dark universe and plays a pivotal role in cutting-edge scientific research,including the study of cosmic environments that support life and imaging black holes.High-sensitivity superconductor–insulator–superconductor(SIS)mixers are essential detectors for terahertz astronomical telescopes and interferometric arrays.Compared to the commonly used classical Nb/AlO_(x)/Nb superconducting tunnel junction,the Nb/AlN/NbN hybrid superconducting tunnel junction has a higher energy gap voltage and can achieve a higher critical current density.This makes it particularly promising for the development of ultra-wideband,high-sensitivity coherent detectors or mixers in various scientific research fields.In this paper,we present a superconducting SIS mixer based on Nb/AlN/NbN parallel-connected twin junctions(PCTJ),which has a bandwidth extending up to490 GHz–720 GHz.The best achieved double-sideband(DSB)noise temperature(sensitivity)is below three times the quantum noise level.

Selection of Fe as a barrier for manufacturing low-cost MgB2 multifilament wires-Advanced microscopy study between Fe and B reaction

The high cost of using the niobium(Nb)barrier for manufacturing magnesium diboride(MgB2)mono-and multi-filamentary wires for large-scale applications has become one of the barriers to replacing current commercial niobium-titanium superconductors.The potential of replacing the Nb barrier with a low-cost iron(Fe)barrier for multifilament MgB2 superconducting wires is investigated in this manuscript.Therefore,MgB2 wires with Fe barrier sintered with different temperatures are studied(from 650°C to 900°C for 1 h)to investigate the non-superconducting reaction phase of Fe-B.Their superconducting performance including engineering critical current density(Je)and n-value are tested at 4.2 K in various external magnetic fields.The best sample sintered at 650°C for 1 h has achieved a Je value of 3.64×10^(4) A cm^(−2) and an n-value of 61 in 2 T magnetic field due to the reduced formation of Fe2B,better grain connectivity and homogenous microstructure.For microstructural analysis,the focused ion beam(FIB)is utilised for the first time to acquire three-dimensional microstructures and elemental mappings of the interface between the Fe barrier and MgB2 core of different wires.The results have shown that if the sintering temperature can be controlled properly,the Je and n-value of the wire are still acceptable for magnet applications.The formation of Fe2B is identified along the edge of MgB2,as the temperature increases,the content of Fe2B also increases which causes the degradation in the performance of wires.

Effect of Processing Procedure on Critical Current Density of Ag-sheathed(Bi,Pb)_2Sr_2Ca_2Cu_3O_x Superconducting Tapes

Bi system tapes were prepared using the powder in tube method. The tapes were processed to their final thickness by repeated rolling and pressing and by a combination of rolling and pressing with intermediate heat treatment. The different processing techniques greatly affected the critical current density J c of the tapes because the homogeneity of the ceramic core and the propensity for crack formation within the tapes mainly depended on the deformation process.

Preparation of dense Ta-LLZO/MgO composite Li-ion solid electrolyte:Sintering, microstructure, performance and the role of MgO

Cubic phase Li7La3Zr2O12(LLZO),a member of the Li–Garnet family,is a promising solid electrolyte and has been widely studied in recent years.However,LLZO samples prepared via conventional ambient air sintering reported in the published literature often contain large grains with lower than desired(<94%)relative density.In this study,a non-contact method of co-firing with mother powder method is proposed to prepare high-quality Ta-doped LLZO–MgO composite ceramics.By sintering at 1150℃for 5 h,the ceramics can reach relative density of 98.2%,conductivity of 5.17×10^-4 S cm^-1 at 25℃and fracture strength of 150 MPa.The sintered samples have uniform fine-grained microstructure and high critical current densities of 0.75–0.95 mA cm-2 at room temperature in Li–Li symmetry cell with Au modification.In addition,systematic sintering experiments and characterizations are conducted to explore the function of MgO in inhibiting the Ta-LLZO grain growth and its existing form inside the composite ceramics.

Formation of epitaxial Tl_2Ba_2Ca_2Cu_3O_(10) superconducting films by dc-magnetron sputtering and triple post-annealing method

For obtaining pure phase T12Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 （T1-2223） films with good superconducting properties, the growth technique is improved by dc magnetron sputtering and a triple post-annealing process. The triple post-annealing process comprises annealing twice in argon and once in oxygen at different temperatures. In the first low-temperature annealing phase in argon, T12Ba2CaCu2O8 （T1-2212） is obtained to effectively minimize evaporation in the next step. With the increase of temperature in the second annealing stage in argon, the previously prepared T1-2212 inter-phase is converted into T1-2223 phase. An additional annealing in oxygen is also adopted to improve the properties of T1-2223 films, each containing an optimal oxygen content value. The results of X-ray diffraction （XRD） θ-2θ scans, 09 scans and rotational φ scans show that each of the T1-2223 films has a high phase purity and an epitaxial structure. Smooth films are observed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The critical temperatures Tc of the films are measured to be about 120 K and the critical current densities Jc can reach 4.0 MA/cm2 at 77 K at self field.

Preparation and characterization of microcrack-free thick YBa_2Cu_3O_(7-δ) films

High quality epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7-δ （YBCO） superconducting films were fabricated on （00l） LaAlO3 substrates using the direct-current sputtering method. The attainment of an unusually high film thickness （up to 2.0 μm） without mi-crocracking was attributed in part to the presence of pores correlated with yttrium-rich composition in the films. The influ-ence of the film thickness on the microstructure was investigated by X-ray diffraction conventional scan （θ-2θ,ω-scan,pole figure） and high-resolution reciprocal space mapping. The films were c-axis oriented with no a-axis-oriented grains up to the thickness of 2 μm. The surface morphology and the critical current density （Jc） strongly depended on the film thickness. Furthermore,the reasons for these thickness dependences were elucidated in detail.