Abstract
In this report, the impact of tungsten oxide nanowires (noted WO3-NWs) inclusion on the AC susceptibility, DC magnetization and superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3Oy (noted Y-123) was investigated. Non-added and WO3-NWs added to Y-123 samples were produced using solid-state reaction route. Prepared samples were characterized by using numerous techniques, such X-rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, electrical resistivity, magnetization hysteresis loops, zero-field cooling and field-cooling (ZFC-FC) magnetizations and AC susceptibility measurements. The successful development of the orthorhombic Y-123 phase was confirmed via XRD and EDX analyses. SEM observations showed that the WO3-NWs provoke an enhancement of the connectivity among grains and reduces the porosity by entering between the grains and filling the voids among them. Measurements of electrical resistivity and ZFC-FC magnetizations verified the manifestation of superconductivity in various samples. The magnetization and intergranular critical current densities (Jcm and Jc,inter) were deduced from various magnetic measurements. Improvements of critical current densities (Jcm and Jc,inter) and flux pinning capability were found with the inclusion of NW-WO3 into Y-123 matrix.