Impact of Dy2O3 nanoparticles additions on the properties of porous YBCO ceramics

In this work, we report the effects of dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) magnetic nanoparticles inclusion on superconducting characteristics and flux pinning of YB2Cu3O7−δ (for brevity YBCO) compound. Using the solid-state reaction route, series of YBa2Cu3O7−δ/(Dy2O3)x were produced by adding up to 0.5 wt% Dy2O3. The crystal structure, morphology, electrical and magnetic properties were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electrical resistivity and physical properties measurement system (PPMS), respectively. The orthorhombicity was preserved with Dy2O3 addition. The electrical resistivity dependence with the temperature (()) revealed the manifestation of superconducting transition in all prepared samples. By increasing x up to 0.2 wt%, an increase of critical current density (Jc) was achieved. The flux pinning ability and the dominant pinning mechanisms in YBa2Cu3O7−δ/(Dy2O3)x composites were checked and discussed.