Biotemplated synthesis of superconducting plate-like YBa2Cu3O7−δ using oligosaccharides

Crystallization of the high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Y123) in a plate-like morphology has been achieved through the use of the short-chained oligosaccharides. This is the first time that biotemplates with such a high degree of monodispersity have been used to synthesize superconducting oxides, with control over crystallization being effected through a single molecular species. We find that for all the oligosaccharides used, there is an increasing prevalence of thin, plate-like crystals as the oligosaccharide chain length increases. SQUID magnetometry revealed that there was an increase in critical current density (Jc) concomitant with an increase in the plateyness of the crystallites.