YBCO nanofibers synthesized by electrospinning a solution of poly(acrylic acid) and metal nitrates

A versatile approach to the synthesis of YBCO (high temperature superconductor ceramics) nanofibers via electrospinning a polymer precursor solution is reported. The aqueous polymer precursor solution consists of poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) and a mixture of yttrium nitrate, barium nitrate, and copper nitrate, henceforth termed (Y,Ba,Cu)–N. The conductivity of the polymer precursor solution at 27.1 C was 14.70 mS/cm, its zero shear viscosity was 52.00 cP, and its pH was 1.88. Typical YBCO nanofibers were 50–100 nm in diameter and around of 10 lm length. The nanofibers also contain relatively small amounts of yttrium oxide and copper yttrium oxide.