Role of defects in increasing the critical current density of reel-to-reel PLD (Eu,Er)Ba2Cu3Oy+BaHfO3-coated conductors.

Given their excellent superconducting properties, REBa₂Cu₃O_y (REBCO)-coated conductors (CCs) are anticipated to be utilized in a variety of magnet applications. To further increase the critical current density J _c of these materials to levels needed for commercial applications, this study employs reel-to-reel (RTR) pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to fabricate REBCO+BaHfO₃ (BHO) CCs. PLD creates BHO nanorods, which serve as flux-pinning defects. The material is subjected to O²⁺ irradiation to introduce more defects. The irradiation-induced defects serve as flux-pinning centers to the REBCO+BHO-nanorod CCs, increasing J _c along the c axis and over a wide range of magnetic-field angles compared with conventional REBCO+BHO-nanorod CCs. Both nanorods and irradiation-induced defects are demonstrated to be effective pinning centers in this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]