Thomas Thersleff

Enhanced flux pinning in YBa2Cu3O7 layers by the formation of nanosized BaHfO3 precipitates using the chemical deposition method

Both a high critical current density and a cost-competitive, easily upscalable procedure are among the most critical requirements for coated conductors. In this work, a low-cost method based on the trifluoroacetic acid process was used to prepare nanosized BaHfO3 particles inside a YBa2Cu3O7 film matrix. The inclusions have a perovskite structure and grow epitaxially in a cube-on-cube relationship. A drastically improved pinning force density and high irreversibility fields in the YBa2Cu3O7 layers were found and are discussed in respect to the Hf doping level in the precursor solutions, which resulted in an increased nanoinclusion content.

Scaling behavior of the critical current in clean epitaxial Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 thin films

The angular-dependent critical current density, Jc(theta), and the upper critical field, Hc2(theta), of epitaxial Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 thin films have been investigated. No Jc(theta) peaks for H || c were observed regardless of temperatures and magnetic fields. In contrast, Jc(theta) showed a broad maximum at theta=90 degree, which arises from intrinsic pinning. All data except at theta=90 degree can be scaled by the Blatter plot. Hc2(theta) near Tc follows the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau expression. The mass anisotropy increased from 1.5 to 2 with increasing temperature, which is an evidence for multi-band superconductivity.

Coherent interfacial bonding on the FeAs tetrahedron in Fe/Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 bilayers

We demonstrate the growth of epitaxial Fe/Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2 bilayers on MgO(001) and (La,Sr)(Al,Ta)O3(001) single crystal substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). This architecture produces a coherent interfacial bond between body-centered cubic iron and Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2 (Ba–122). The superconducting transition temperatures for both bilayers remain close to that of the PLD target. Direct observation of interfacial bonding between Fe and the Ba–122 FeAs sublattice by atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy implies that this bilayer architecture may work for other iron pnictide systems and pave the way for their fabrication into superconducting/ferromagnetic heterostructures.

Critical current scaling and anisotropy in oxypnictide superconductors.

Having succeeded in the fabrication of epitaxial superconducting LaFeAsO(1-x)F(x) thin films we performed an extensive study of electrical transport properties. In the face of multiband superconductivity we can demonstrate that an anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau scaling of the angular dependent critical current densities can be adopted, although being originally developed for single band superconductors. In contrast with single band superconductors the mass anisotropy of LaFeAsO(1-x)F(x) is temperature dependent. A very steep increase of the upper critical field and the irreversibility field can be observed at temperatures below 6 K, indicating that the band with the smaller gap is in the dirty limit. This temperature dependence can be theoretically described by two dominating bands responsible for superconductivity. A pinning force scaling provides insight into the prevalent pinning mechanism and can be specified in terms of the Kramer model.

Complex frictional analysis of self-lubricant W-S-C/Cr coating

Transition metal dichalcogenides belong to one of the most developed classes of materials for solid lubrication. However, one of the main drawbacks of most of the self-lubricating coatings is their low load-bearing capacity, particularly in terrestrial atmospheres. In our previous work, alloying thin films based on tungsten disulfide with non-metallic interstitial elements, such as carbon or nitrogen, has been studied in order to improve tribological performance in different environments. Excellent results were reached with the deposited coatings hardness, in some cases, more than one order of magnitude higher than single W-S films. In this work, W-S-C films were deposited with increasing Cr contents by co-sputtering chromium and composite WS2-C and targets. Two films were prepared with approx. 7 and 13 at.% of Cr. Alloying with chromium led to dense films with amorphous microstructure; the hardness and adhesion was improved. Sliding tests were carried out in dry and humid air using a pin-on-disc tribometer with 100Cr6 steel balls as a counterpart. To analyse the sliding process, the surfaces in the contact were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (bonding), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Surface and sub-surface structural modification of the coating and composition of the transferred tribolayer are discussed in detail. High friction in humid air was attributed to the absence of a well-ordered WS2 sliding interface. On the other hand, the existence of such an interface explained the very low friction observed in dry air.

Influence of Fe buffer thickness on the crystalline quality and the transport properties of Fe/Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2 bilayers

The implementation of an Fe buffer layer is a promising way to obtain epitaxial growth of Co-doped BaFe2As2 (Ba-122). However, the crystalline quality and the superconducting properties of Co-doped Ba-122 are influenced by the Fe buffer layer thickness, dFe. The well-textured growth of the Fe/Ba-122 bilayer with dFe = 15 nm results in a high Jc of 0.45 MAcm

Nanocolumns in YBa2Cu3O7 − x/BaZrO3 quasi-multilayers: formation and influence on superconducting properties

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Structural and pinning properties of Y2Ba4CuMOy (M = Nb,Zr)/YBa2Cu3O7−δ quasi-multilayers fabricated by off-axis pulsed laser deposition

at 12 K in self-field, whereas a low Jc value of 61000 Acm

Exponentially decaying magnetic coupling in sputtered thin film FeNi/Cu/FeCo trilayers

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Interlayer structure in YBCO-coated conductors prepared by chemical solution deposition

is recorded for the bilayer with dFe = 4 nm at the corresponding reduced temperature due to the presence of grain boundaries.