• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2013

$YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Y123) powders for the fabrication of bulk superconductors were synthesized by the powder reaction method using $Y_2O_3$ (99.9% purity), $BaCO_3$ (99.75%) and CuO (99.9%) powders. The raw powders were weighed to the cation ratio of Y:Ba:Cu=1:2:3, mixed and calcined at $880^{\circ}C-930^{\circ}C$ in air with intermediate repeated crushing steps. It was found that the formation of Y123 powder was more sensitive to reaction temperature than reaction time. The calcined Y123 powder and a mixture of (Y123 + 0.25 mole $Y_2O_3$ + 1 wt.% $CeO_2$, $Y_{1.5}Ba_2Cu_3O_x$ (Y1.5)) were used as raw powders for the fabrication of poly-grain or single grain superconductors. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_{c,onset}$) of the sintered Y123 sample was 91 K and the transition width was as large as 11 K, whereas the $T_{c,onset}$ of the melt-grown Y1.5 sample was 90.5 K and the transition width was 3.5 K. The critical current density ($J_c$) at 77 K and 0 T of the sintered Y123 was 700 $A/cm^2$, whereas the $J_c$ of the top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) processed Y1.5 sample was $3.2{\times}10^4\;A/cm^2$. The magnetic flux density (H) at 77 K of the TSMG-processed Y123 and Y1.5 sample showed the 0.53 kG and 2.45 kG, respectively, which are 15% and 71% of the applied magnetic field of 3.5 kG. The high H value of the TSMG-processed Y1.5 sample is attributed to the formation of the larger superconducting grain with fine Y211 dispersion.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.333-336
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• 2021

Oxide YBCO bulk superconductors are manufactured using the melt process. Because seed crystal growth method utilizes a slow-spreading layer-by-layer reaction, a long-term heat treatment is required to manufacture a single-crystal specimen of several cm. In this study, the melt process method was applied to compensate for the shortcomings of the seed crystal growth method. The thickness of the upper and lower pellets of the YBCO bulk was molded to 40 mm, and YBCO superconductor was produced by heat treatment. The measurement results of capture magnetism was in line with the literature. This results in a relationship that the higher the growth of Y211 particle in the YBCO, the higher the superconducting properties. We analyzed the YBCO superconductor, focusing on the Y₂BaCuO₅ particle distribution.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.622-625
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• 2022

YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk as a high temperature oxide superconducting conductor has the high critical temperature of 92 K. YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk superconductors have been fabricated by a seeded melting growth. Magnetic properties were studied by using superconductor of melted YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y oxides. It was demonstrated that Y₂BaCuO₅ particles acts as a pinning center which plays an important role on the magnetic properties. The thickness of the upper and lower pellets of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk was formed at 40 mm with 55 g of the composition, and the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductor was manufactured through a heat treatment process. Manufacturing the superconducting bulk, it is possible to improve the pore density of the superconducting bulk by providing a path through which oxygen could be emitted.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 1999

Textured bulk $YBa_2Cu_3O_x$ superconductors samples were grown directionally using different precursors of $YBa_2Cu_3O_x$ power. and a mixture of $YBa_2Cu_3O_5, BaCuO_2 and CuO$ powder. The microstructures and superconducting properties of the samples were compared. The mixture powder produced better microstructures i.e. dense and crack-free so that a higher critical current density was achieved at the same hot-zone temperature of 115$0^{\circ}C$ than the reacted powder does. When the reacted powder used as a precursor, as the hot-zone temperature increased upto 1215$^{\circ}C$, the texture of the sample improved and the critical current density increased. The amount of melt in the sample is of secondary importance for the growth of superconducting $YBa_2Cu_3O_x$ grains. The microstructures and superconductivity of good quality superconductors grown directionally were more strongly influenced by the kind of precursor rather than the amount og melt in a sample.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.438-441
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• 2021

The electrical characteristics of single-crystal composite superconductors produced by a melting process were studied by neutron irradiation. In order to improve the current characteristics of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductor, it is necessary to form an effective flux pinning center inside the superconductor. In this study, an increase in flux pinning was attempted through neutron irradiation onto YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductors. The neutron irradiation was performed at 30 MeV for 500 sec, The electrical properties of the superconductors were measured in a magnetic field of 5 Tesla at 50 K using a magnetic properties measurement system (MPMS). After neutron irradiation, the critical current density of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductor in a 1 Tesla magnetic field was 1×10⁵ A/cm². Once neutrons were irradiated at 30 MeV and 10 μA for 500 sec, the critical current density was observed to increase significantly. When neutrons are irradiated to a superconductor, micro-defects are created in the superconductor, and they act as flux pinning centers that hold the magnetic field generated when an electric current flows.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.7-10
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• 2009

Effects of $BaCO_3$ purity on the superconducting properties of top seeded melt growth (TSMG) processed $Y_{1+x}Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Y1+x, x=0.1 and 0.2) superconductors were investigated. $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$ (Y123) powder prepared using $BaCO_3$ with 99.75% purity and commercially available Y123 powder of 99.9% were used for the fabrication of single Y123 grain superconductors. $T_c$ values of the Y1+x samples prepared using low purity Y123 powder were slightly lower than those of the samples prepared using a high purity powder. In addition to the lower $T_c$, an anomalous peak effect in the intermediate magnetic fields was observed in Y1+x samples prepared using the low purity $BaCO_3$ powder. The slight decrease in $T_c$ and the anomalous peak effect are ascribed to the possible incorporation of a Y123 phase with impurity elements such as strontium and calcium included in the $BaCO_3$powder of 99.7%. The result suggests that the low purity $BaCO_3$ powder of a low price can be used as a raw power for the fabrication of single grain YBCO bulk superconductors.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.309-315
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• 2013

$GdBa_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$(Gd123) powders were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method using $Gd_2O_3$ (99.9% purity), $BaCO_3$ (99.75%) and CuO (99.9%) powders. The synthesized Gd123 powder and the Gd123 powder with $Gd_2O_3$ addition ($Gd_{1.5}Ba_2Cu_3O_{7-y}$(Gd1.5)) were used as raw powders for the fabrication of Gd123 bulk superconductors. The Gd123 and Gd1.5 bulk superconductors were fabricated by sintering or a top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) process. The superconducting transition temperature ($T_{c,onset}$) of the sintered Gd123 was 93 K and the transition width was as large as 20 K. The $T_{c,onset}$ of the TSMG processed Gd123 was 82 K and the transition width was also as large as 12 K. The critical current density ($J_c$) at 77 K and 0 T of the sintered Gd123 and TSMG processed Gd123 were as low as a few hundreds A/$cm^2$. The addition of 0.25 mole $Gd_2O_3$ and 1 wt.% $CeO_2$ to Gd123 enhanced the $T_c$, $J_c$ and magnetic flux density (H) of the TSMG processed Gd123 sample owing to the formation of the superconducting phase with high flux pinning capability. The $T_c$ of the TSMG processed Gd1.5 was 92 K and the transition width was 1 K. The $J_cs$ at 77 K (0 T and 2 T) were $3.2{\times}10^4\;A/cm^2$ and $2.5{\times}10^4\;A/cm^2$, respectively. The H at 77 K of the TSMG-processed Gd1.5 was 1.96 kG, which is 54% of the applied magnetic field (3.45 kG).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.461-465
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• 2021

A diffusion heat treatment process for YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk superconductor in a Gd₂O₃ powder was attempted. As a result of measuring the critical temperature of the superconducting bulk, there was no change in the superconducting transition temperature as the Gd particles diffused into the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y lattice, resulting in dense microstructure. As a result of measuring the critical current, the critical current density (J_c) of the superconducting bulk having treated by the Gd thermal diffusion treatment at 0 T increased to 3×10⁴ A/cm² at 0 T, which was higher than that of the superconducting bulk without thermal diffusion treatment. The surface magnetic force of the superconducting bulk with Gd thermal diffusion treatment was observed at the center of the superconducting bulk with the maximum trapped magnetic force (Hmax) of 1.51 kG. This result means that the Gd thermal diffusion treatment contributes to improving the critical current density Jc of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y, and it is believed that Gd particles migrating into the superconducting bulk through thermal diffusion either fill the surface pores of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductors or act as a flux pinning center.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.247-248
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• 2006

Bulk YBCO 초전도체는 top-seeded melt-growth 방법으로 제조되었다. YBCO bulk는 Epoxy resin과 $AgNO_3$를 보강해 초전도체의 기계적 강도를 향상하고자 하였다. Epoxy resin은 보강 재료인 STYCAST 2850-FT와 경화제인 CATALYST 24LV 를 100:5 비율로 혼합하여 제조한 후 mould에 넣고 $66^{\circ}C$에서 2시간 열처리 하였다 (rotary pump로 진공 분위기 조성). $AgNO_3$는 $350^{\circ}C$에서 2시간, $450^{\circ}C$에서 1시간 열처리 하여 Ag와 $NO_3$의 분리 후 YBCO bulk에 Ag가 보강되도록 하였다. Epoxy resin 과 분리된 Ag는 YBCO bluk의 crack과 void에 침투되는 것을 SEM과 광학현미경을 통해 관찰할 수 있었다. Three point bending test를 이용하여 보강 전후의 YBCO bulk의 기계적 강도를 측정하였다. 보강 후의 YBCO bluk의 기계적 강도는 보강 전에 비해 향상된 결과를 확인할 수 있었고, Epoxy resin과 $AgNO_3$를 보강한 YBCO는 기계적 강도 향상에 높은 신뢰성을 보이고 있다.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1238-1239
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• 2008

The high Tc supeconductor of ceramic oxides type was studied for finding its application field. The results reportaed in this paper on the stability of the ceramic superconductors and the resistance to ripening in the BCO liquid phase at elevated temperature opens a processing window for engineering the microstructure of large superconductor at the nanoscale level. The results suggest further that the introduction of highly efficient artifical pinning center to bulk ceramics superconductor.