Addition of New Pinning Center to Unidirectionally Melt Solidified Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductor

Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductor including small particles of BaSnO3 was synthesized by the unidirectional melt solidification method. Finely dispersed Y2BaCuO5 precipitates and BaSnO3 particles were observed in YBa2Cu3Oy matrix. The critical current density at 77 K in 8 kOe was 1.8×104 A/cm2, which was about four times higher than that of the BaSnO3-free specimen. Fine particles of BaSnO3 (0.1–1 µm) can act as effective flux pinning centers in the specimen and result in an increase of the critical current density.