Influence of Sm2Ba4CuBiOy phase content on Jc of SmBa2Cu3O7/Sm2Ba4CuBiOy nano-composites

Presence of various nano-scale Y2Ba4CuMOy phase inclusions in YBa2Cu3O7−δ phase matrix are shown to improve magnetic flux pinning over wide range of magnetic fields. We first fabricate single phase of Sm2Ba4CuBiOy (Sm-2411) using a solid-state reaction and then introduced them into SmBCO single grains. Top seeded melt growth (TSMG) has been used to grow SmBCO single grains in air atmosphere. A significant improvement in Jc is observed, over wide magnetic fields, for single grains containing Sm-2411nano-phase inclusions when compared to that of SmBa2Cu3O7−δ/Sm2BaCuO5 composites. When compared to YBCO nano-composites, SmBCO composites are shown to exhibit high Jc at medium range of magnetic fields (1–2 T) at 77 K.