Smart meta-superconductor MgB2 constructed by inhomogeneous phase of luminescent nanocomposite.

On the basis of the idea that the injecting energy will improve the conditions for the formation of Cooper pairs, a smart meta-superconductor (SMSC) was prepared by doping inhomogeneous phase of luminescent nanocomposite Y2O3:Eu3+/Ag, which has the strong luminescence characteristic, in MgB2 to improve the superconducting transition temperature (TC) of the MgB2-based superconductor. Two types of Y2O3:Eu3+/Ag with different sizes were prepared and marked as m-Y2O3:Eu3+/Ag and nY2O3:Eu3+/Ag. MgB2 SMSC was prepared through an ex situ process. Results show that when the inhomogeneous phase content was fixed at 2.0 wt.%, the TC of MgB2 SMSC increased initially then decreased with the increase in the Ag content in the dopant. When the Ag content accounted for 5 wt.% of the inhomogeneous phase weight, the TC of MgB2 SMSC was 37.2-38.0 K, which was similar to that of pure MgB2. Meanwhile, the TC of MgB2 SMSC doped with n-Y2O3:Eu3+/Ag increased initially then decreased basically with the increase in the content of n-Y2O3:Eu3+/Ag, in which Ag accounted for 5 wt.% of the inhomogeneous phase. The TC of MgB2 SMSC doped with 0.5 wt.% n-Y2O3:Eu3+/Ag was 37.6-38.4 K, which was 0.4 K higher than that of pure MgB2. It is thought that the doping inhomogeneous phase of luminescent nanocomposite into the superconductor is a new means to improve the TC of SMSC.