Effects of Silver (Ag) and Aluminum (Al) Additions on YBa₂Cu₃O₇−δ (YBCO) Ceramic Composites

Edimar A S Duran, Alfonso Pulgar, Rodolfo Izquierdo , Enésio Marinho da Silva Junior, Rafael Zadorosny

UNESP

Abstract:
The tailoring of YBa₂Cu₃O₇−δ (YBCO) ceramic composites, enhanced via silver (Ag) and aluminum (Al) additions, represents a groundbreaking strategy for improving both their structural integrity and superconducting performance. In particular, using Ag and Al atoms as dopants induces a tuning of the critical properties of YBCO, such as the critical temperature (Tc), current density (Jc), lattice parameters, and microstructural stability. Exploring composite materials through advanced chemical synthesis methods—particularly the sol-gel and one-pot approaches—offers exceptional advantages. These methods provide unparalleled control over the homogeneity of the precursor solution and enable a uniform distribution of elements at the atomic scale. Using this innovative framework, we successfully developed stable and reproducible precursor solutions containing Ag and Al dopants, which show excellent compatibility with advanced ceramic synthesis processes for producing YBCO ceramic nanowires via SBS. This advancement opens new avenues for superconducting devices and holds significant potential for developing sophisticated sensors and nanoscale electronics.