Co-addition of insulator-conductor (Dy₂O₃-Ag) nanoparticles as efficient pinning centers for YBa₂Cu₃O_7-d superconducting ceramic

The single inclusion of nanoparticles (NPs) into high-temperature superconductor materials was widely reported and proved its ability to enhance the pinning properties. The current research work aims to evaluate the influence of the combined addition effect of conductor (Ag) and insulator (Dy₂O₃) NPs on the structure, morphology, critical current densities, and flux pinning properties of Ya₂Cu₃O_7-d (Y123) superconducting ceramics. We established that adding this route has a positive effect on the superconducting and pinning properties of the material. Specifically, it is observed that the co-addition of Dy₂O₃-Ag-NPs substantially enhances the critical current density by >330 % for in-field up to 3 Tesla and by 450 % for in-field up to 5 Tesla as compared to the pristine Y123 sample. Moreover, the energy of the centers that pin the vortex was strengthened and the critical current density at grain boundaries has also risen by more than ten times.