Influence of magnetic nanoparticles on superconductivity of MgB2

•Systematic study of the effects on magnetic nanodopands on superconductivity of MgB2 was performed.•Enhancement of superconducting properties was observed for four types of nanodopands.•However, no real evidence for magnetic flux pinning is obtained.

Recently we begun systematic study of the influence of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on the superconducting properties (transition temperature Tc, critical fields and critical current density, Jc) of MgB2 wires. We prepared over 60 Fe-sheathed MgB2 wires doped with different types and quantities of MNPs, such as pure metals (Fe, Co, Ni), magnetic borides (Fe2B, Co2B, NiCoB) and ferrites (AFe2O4, A = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). Both, uncoated and coated (with silica or dextrin) MNPs were used in order to assess also the effects of co-doping and of interactions between MNPs. All MNPs suppress Tc of MgB2 and higher MNP contents inevitably cause deterioration of superconducting properties of wires. However, light doping (⩽2.5 wt.%) with few species of MNP (Ni, NiCoB and dextrin coated NiFe2O4 and Fe3O4) improved low-temperature, high-field Jc of MgB2 wires. Possible origin of this improvement is briefly discussed.