Flux pinning properties of YBCO films with nano-particles by TFA-MOD method

Nano-particles were doped into YBCO films as pinning centers by a metal organic deposition (MOD) method using trifluoroacetates. Two types of initial solution with a cation ratio of Y: Ba: Cu = 1: 1.5: 3 were prepared; one with the dispersion of SnO2 particles with the size of 15-25 nm and the other one with the dispersion of smaller ZrO2 particles with the size of under 8 nm, then the solution was spin-coated on CeO2/Gd2Zr2O7/Hastelloy substrates. The coated films were calcined at 430 °C in oxygen atmosphere and crystallized at 780 °C in low oxygen atmosphere. From the results of X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), peaks of BaSnO3 were observed clearly in the YBCO film by the starting solution with SnO2. On the other hands, little peaks corresponding to BaZrO3 were observed in the film by the solution with ZrO2. Many CuO segregations were recognized at the surface of SnO2 doped YBCO film in comparison to the YBCO film with ZrO2 doping. From these results, it is indicated that most of SnO2 particles in precursors are react with Ba during heating. Critical current density (JC) of the YBCO films by both solutions showed higher performance than that of pure YBCO film in magnetic fields.