Enhancement of Critical Parameters of YBCO Superconductor by Addition of Graphene Oxide

Abstract

The variation in structural, morphological and superconducting parameters of Graphene oxide (GO) added YBCO superconductor, synthesized by solid state reaction route has been discussed. The addition of GO to the YBCO is varied from x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, & 0.7 wt. % of the pristine sample. The phase purity and morphological analysis were carried out by X-ray diffraction and Field emission scanning electron microscopy respectively. Since the orthorhombic structure of the YBCO sample remains unchanged under addition of GO, hence GO resides near the grain boundary region. The variation of superconducting parameters were observed through the resistivity vs. temperature and current vs. voltage measurement. The onset critical temperature increases with increasing wt. % of GO and for 0.7 wt. % GO added sample the value of was found to be 96.42 K. Similarly, the value of critical current density increases with increasing wt. % of GO and maximum value was observed for 0.7 wt. % GO added sample. This may be attributed to better connectivity between the superconducting grains. Hence, critical current density Jc increases with increasing wt. % of GO.