Enhanced critical current density using Nd2O3 nano-islands on NdBa2Cu3O7-delta thin films prepared by PLD

In this study, the effect of Nd2O3 nano-islands on the critical properties of NdBa2Cu3O7-delta (Nd-123) superconductive thin films grown on Ni-W metallic substrates was investigated. Nd-123 superconducting ceramic materials were prepared by solid-state reaction technique and then this ceramic material was used as target for producing the Nd-123 superconductive thin films with pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Nano-islands were prepared with the deposition of Nd2O3 by PLD. The obtained superconductive thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, morphological investigations of atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, transport analysis such as J(c) and R-T measurements by four-point probe (FPP). As a result of these analyses, it was determined that nano-islands have important role for the flux pinning and it provides the increase of about 32% for the critical current value (J(c)).