Irradiation performance of rare earth and nanoparticle enhanced high temperature superconducting films based on YBCO

The new series of commercially produced high temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes based on the YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) structure have attracted renewed attention for their performance under applied magnetic fields without significant loss in supercurrent compared to the earlier generation of conductors. This adaptability is achieved through rare earth substitution and dopants resulting in the formation of nanoparticles and extended defects within the superconducting film matrix. The electrical performance of Zr-(Gdx,Y1−x)Ba2Cu3O7 and (Y1−x,Dyx)Ba2Cu3O7 coated conductor tapes were tested prior to and after neutron exposures between 6.54 × 1017 and 7.00 × 1018 n/cm2 (E > 0.1 MeV). Results showed a decrease in superconducting current with neutron irradiation for the range of fluences tested, with losses in the Zr-(Gdx,Y1−x)Ba2Cu3O7 conductor being more rapid. Post-irradiation testing was limited to evaluation at 77 K and applied fields of up to 0.5 Tesla, and therefore testing at lower temperatures and higher applied fields may result in improved superconducting properties as shown in previous ion irradiation work. Under the conditions tested, the doped conductors showed a loss in critical current at fluences lower than that of undoped YBa2Cu3O7 tapes reported on in literature.