Fabrication of YBCO nanowires with anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template

We have fabricated YBCO nanowires by using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template and sol–gel method, to investigate the fundamental properties of the one-dimensional nanostructure YBCO high-temperature superconductor and enhance its applications. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern results have shown forming of Y-123 nanowires in the template. As an outcome, the YBCO nanowires, prepared by dipping AAO template into YBCO sol method, have average diameter of about 38 nm and length of 1  μm; this is an optimum nanowire sample with larger diameter and length. The resistance–temperature measurement indicates that the onset critical temperature of these samples occurs at 91 K, and the resistance of the optimum sample at onset transition is 10 times lower than the other sample.