Influence of Sm Doping on YBCO Bulks in YBa2Cu3O7-δ/Y2BaCuO5 System.

Sm-doped single-grain YBCO bulk superconductors were fabricated by the Top Seeded Melt Growth process in the system YBa2Cu3O7-δ/Y2BaCuO5 with CeO2 addition and with added liquid-rich powder at the bottom pellet. According to microstructure analyses, Sm2O3 addition led to the refinement of Y-211 particles, which was reflected in higher critical current density, Jc, at 77 K and zero fieldmeasured for doped sample. Missing of expected secondary peak in Jc field dependence for doped sample was related to lowering of Sm concentration in the sample by its diffusion into additional liquid-rich phase pellet. Sm-doped pellet exhibited higher maximum trapped field, Bc, measured at 77 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]