ENHANCED FLUX PINNING BY PHASE-DECOMPOSITION IN Y-BA-CU-O

Significantly improved flux pinning has been achieved in bulk YBa 2Cu3O7-δ superconductor ("123" compound) containing fine-scale defects (<∼50 Å thick). The measured Jc intragrain of ∼105 A/cm2 at 77 K, H=0.9 T is about ten times higher than the typical values for bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O. The improved structure was produced by rapid decomposition at 920°C of the YBa2Cu4O8 ("124") lead to a commercially viable processing technique for flux-pinning precursor. This new and simple processing route could enhancement in bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O.