Abstract
In this study, nanosized Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) particles were synthesized by using the microemulsion method. The water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion system constituted of n-octane, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), butanol and water. The effects of the reaction time and heat treatment on the Y211 particle size were studied. SEM and TEM investigations indicate that the average particle size of the synthesized Y211 was less than 110 nm. Melt-textured superconducting yttrium barium copper oxides (YBCOs) were fabricated by using the synthesized nanosized Y211 powder with and without Pt doping. Trapped field and critical current density (J(C)) were enhanced in the melt-textured YBCO as a result of using the nanosized Y211 as the starting precursor.