Highly enhanced in-field critical current density of MgB2 superconductor by combined addition of burned rice husk and nano Ho2O3

With the aim of improving flux pinning and in-field critical current density [JC(H)], two physically and chemically different additives – burned rice husk (BRH) and nano Ho2O3 were introduced into in situ MgB2 superconductor. The effects of the above two additives were studied individually and combinedly. Ho2O3 decomposed and reacted with B to form HoB4, without any substitution. BRH caused considerable amount of C substitution at B site and formed Mg2Si and Mg2C3 secondary phases. Addition of Ho2O3 improved the JC(H) only marginally, but BRH improved the JC(H) strongly. Combined addition of Ho2O3 with BRH was found to be much more effective than their solo addition for the enhancement of JC(H) of MgB2.

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