Preparation of YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting thick films by the electrophoretic deposition method

in Journal of Materials Science (2006), 41(24), 8109-8114

YBa2Cu3O7-x thick films have been realised by the Electrophoretic Deposition method (EPD). The influence of several parameters (powder and iodine concentrations in the suspension, applied voltage and ... [more ▼]

YBa2Cu3O7-x thick films have been realised by the Electrophoretic Deposition method (EPD). The influence of several parameters (powder and iodine concentrations in the suspension, applied voltage and deposition time) on the EPD process has been studied by measuring the conductivity of the suspension and the amount of YBa2Cu3O7-x particles deposited on the electrode. Superconducting coatings onto silver substrates have been produced by a multilayer process during different deposition times. The highest critical current density value of these coatings measured by the four-point probe method is about 10^3 A/cm^2 (77 K), in a suitable range for magnetic shielding applications. [less ▲]

Silver paint as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO single-domain welding

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2005), 18(4), 508-512

Silver paint has been tested as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO 4 single-domain welding. Junctions have been manufactured on Dy-Ba-Cu-O single domains cut either along planes parallel to the c-axis IT or ... [more ▼]

Silver paint has been tested as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO 4 single-domain welding. Junctions have been manufactured on Dy-Ba-Cu-O single domains cut either along planes parallel to the c-axis IT or along the ab-planes. Microstructural and superconducting characterizations of the samples have been performed. For both types of junctions, the microstructure in the joined area is very clean: no secondary phase or Ag particle segregation has been observed. Electrical and magnetic measurements for all configurations of interest are reported (rho(T) curves, and Hall probe mapping). The narrow resistive superconducting transition reported for all configurations shows that the artificial junction does not affect significantly the measured superconducting properties of the material. [less ▲]

Spin glass behaviour and spin-dependent scattering in La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.9Cr0.1O3 perovskites

in Chinese Physics Letters (2005), 22(3), 686-689

The magnetic, electrical and thermal transport properties of the perovskite La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.9Cr0.1O3 have been investigated by measuring dc magnetization, ac susceptibility, the magnetoresistance and ... [more ▼]

The magnetic, electrical and thermal transport properties of the perovskite La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.9Cr0.1O3 have been investigated by measuring dc magnetization, ac susceptibility, the magnetoresistance and thermal conductivity in the temperature range of 5-300 K. The spin glass behaviour with a spin freezing temperature of 70 K has been well confirmed for this compound, which demonstrates the coexistence and competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic clusters by the introduction of Cr. Colossal magnetoresistance has been observed over the temperature range investigated. The introduction of Cr causes the "double-bump" feature in electrical resistivity rho(T). Anomalies on the susceptibility and the thermal conductivity associated with the double-bumps in rho(T) are observed simultaneously. The imaginary part of ac susceptibility shows a sharp peak at the temperature of insulating-metallic transition where the first resistivity bump was observed, but it is a deep-set valley near the temperature where the second bump in rho(T) emerges. The thermal conductivity shows an increase below the temperature of the insulating metallic transition, but the phonon scattering is enhanced accompanying the appearance of the second peak of double-bumps in rho(T). We relate those observed in magnetic and transport properties of La0.7Ca0.3Mn0.9Cr0.1O3 to the spin-dependent scattering. The results reveal that the spin-phonon interaction may be of more significance than the electron (charge)-phonon interaction in the mixed perovskite system. [less ▲]

Investigation of DyBa2CU3O7-d superconducting domains grown by the infiltration technique starting with small size Dy-211 particles

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2005), 18(2 Sp. Iss. SI), 136-141

An infiltration and growth process is here used as an alternative to the classical top-seeded melt-textured growth process for the production of Dy-123 single-domains with finely dispersed small size Dy ... [more ▼]

An infiltration and growth process is here used as an alternative to the classical top-seeded melt-textured growth process for the production of Dy-123 single-domains with finely dispersed small size Dy-211 particles. The starting materials are the 211-particles and a barium and copper rich liquid phase precursor. The infiltration and growth process allows for controlling both the spatial and size distribution of the 211-particles in the final superconducting 123-single-domain. The main parameters (set-ups, maximum processing temperature with respect to the peritectic temperature, nature of reactant, porosity of the 211-preform) of the infiltration and growth process are discussed. Moreover, different processes of chimie douce are shown in order to produce Dy-211 particles with controlled shape and size, particles that can be used as precursors for the infiltration and growth process. [less ▲]

Unusual thermoelectric behavior of packed crystalline granular metals

in Journal of Applied Physics (2004), 96(12), 7338-7345

Loosely packed granular materials are intensively studied nowadays. Electrical and thermal transport properties should reflect the granular structure, as well as intrinsic properties. We have compacted ... [more ▼]

Loosely packed granular materials are intensively studied nowadays. Electrical and thermal transport properties should reflect the granular structure, as well as intrinsic properties. We have compacted crystalline CaAl-based metallic grains and studied the electrical resistivity and the thermoelectric power as a function of temperature (T) from 15 to 300 K. Both properties show three regimes as a function of temperature. It should be pointed out: (i) The electrical resistivity continuously decreases between 15 and 235 K, (ii) with various dependencies, e.g., similar ~ T(-3/4) at low T, while (iii) the thermoelectric power (TEP) is positive, (iv) shows a bump near 60 K, and (v) presents a rather unusual square root of temperature dependence at low temperature. It is argued that these three regimes indicate a competition between geometric and thermal processes-for which a theory seems to be missing in the case of TEP. The microchemical analysis results are also reported, indicating a complex microstructure inherent to the phase diagram peritectic intricacies of this binary alloy. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics. [less ▲]

Effects of silicon addition on the electrical and magnetic properties of copper-doped (La,Ca)MnO3 compounds

in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (2004), 268(3), 364-373

In this paper we report about the electrical properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 compounds substituted by copper on the manganese site and/or deliberately contaminated by SiO2 in the reactant mixture. Several ... [more ▼]

In this paper we report about the electrical properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 compounds substituted by copper on the manganese site and/or deliberately contaminated by SiO2 in the reactant mixture. Several phenomena have been observed and discussed. SiO2 addition leads to the formation of an apatite-like secondary phase that affects the electrical conduction through the percolation of the charge carriers. On the other hand, depending on the relative amounts of copper and silicon, the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity can be noticeably modified: our results enable us to compare the effects of crystallographic vacancies on the A and B sites of the perovskite with the influence of the copper ions substituted on the manganese site. The most original result occurs for the compounds with a small ratio Si/Cu, which display double-peaked resistivity vs. temperature curves. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Critical state modelling of crossed field demagnetisation in HTS materials

in Andreone, A.; Pepe, G. P.; Cristiano, R. (Eds.) et al Applied Superconductivity 2003 (Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Applied Superconductivity) (2004)

Large magnetic fields can be trapped in high temperature superconductor material, enabling their use as permanent magnets in various applications. It has, however, been observed that these materials ... [more ▼]

Large magnetic fields can be trapped in high temperature superconductor material, enabling their use as permanent magnets in various applications. It has, however, been observed that these materials experience a decay in magnetisation when a field is applied in a direction transverse to the trapped field. This paper presents the results of critical state modelling of an infinite slab of superconductor that is first fully magnetised and then exposed to magnetic field in the transverse direction. The bean and double critical state model are implemented and the results compared to each other and to that of physical experiment. The convergence of the decay is investigated as well as the effect of the magnitude of the crossed field on the final decay value. Diamagnetic and paramagnetic initial conditions are applied to the material and the results used to compare the accuracy of the bean and double critical state model. [less ▲]

ac magnetic behavior of large-grain magnetoresistive La0.78Ca0.22Mn0.90Ox materials

in Physical Review. B (2003), 68(22), 224418

We report a detailed set of ac magnetic measurements carried out on bulk large grain La-Ca-Mn-O samples extracted from a floating zone method-grown rod. Three samples with La0.78Ca0.22Mn0.90Ox ... [more ▼]

We report a detailed set of ac magnetic measurements carried out on bulk large grain La-Ca-Mn-O samples extracted from a floating zone method-grown rod. Three samples with La0.78Ca0.22Mn0.90Ox stoichiometry but differing in their microstructure were investigated by electrical resistivity and ac susceptibility measurements: (i) a single grain sample, (ii) a sample containing two grains, and (iii) a polycrystalline sample. We show that the superimposition of dc magnetic fields during ac magnetic susceptibility measurements is an efficient way for characterizing the magnetic transition of samples with different microstructures. Whereas both single grain and polycrystalline samples display a single susceptibility peak, an additional kink structure is observed in the case of the double grain sample. The temperature dependence of the ac susceptibility measured with superimposed dc magnetic fields is analyzed in the framework of second-order phase transition ideas. The relations between the critical exponents (beta+gamma ~ 1.5, delta ~ 2.5) are found to be close to those of the mean-field model for all samples. This is attributed to the disordering caused by unoccupied Mn sites. ©2003 The American Physical Society. [less ▲]

Anisotropic AC behavior of multifilamentary Bi-2223/Ag tapes

in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity (2003), 13(2, Part 3), 2976-2979

In this communication, we report on the anisotropy of the superconducting properties of multifilamentary Bi-based tapes experimentally investigated by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. The ... [more ▼]

In this communication, we report on the anisotropy of the superconducting properties of multifilamentary Bi-based tapes experimentally investigated by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. The susceptibility X = X' - jX" was measured using a commercial system and a couple of orthogonal pick-up coils. The X'' vs. temperature curves were shown to exhibit two peaks. The smaller of the peaks, occurring near T = 72 K, was only visible for particular field directions and within a given frequency window. Such results point out the role played by the phase difference between the applied magnetic field and the internal magnetic field seen by the filaments. (C) 2003 IEEE. [less ▲]

Magnetotransport study of MgB2 superconductor

in Superconductor Science and Technology (2003), 16(10), 1167-1172

Precise magnetotransport studies of heat and charge carriers in polycrystalline MgB2 show that magnetic fields up to 8 T remarkably influence electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and thermal ... [more ▼]

Precise magnetotransport studies of heat and charge carriers in polycrystalline MgB2 show that magnetic fields up to 8 T remarkably influence electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity. The superconducting transition temperature shifts from 39 K to 19 K at 8 T as observed on electric signals. The temperature transition width is weakly broadened. Electron and phonon contributions to the thermal conductivity are separated and discussed. The Debye temperature calculated from a phonon drag thermoelectric power component is inconsistent with values derived through other effects. [less ▲]