FLUX PINNING OPTIMIZATION IN MgB2 SUPERCONDUCTING BULKS AND WIRE

• Grant number: 18/11521-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: May 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Barboza Sarno da Silva
• Grantee: Lucas Barboza Sarno da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Durval Rodrigues Junior

Abstract

In recent years there has been a significant advance in the understanding and application of MgB2 superconductors. The Group of Superconductivity of the Lorena Engineering School has been developing important works in the improvement of these superconductors. It was observed that the addition of other metal diborides to the MgB2, with the same crystalline structure as the MgB2, can change the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the material, by doping and/or introducing defects in the matrix. The metal diboride VB2 showed to be efficient in the magnetic flux pinning, increasing the transport capacity in the entire range of applied magnetic fields. Furthermore, preview works showed that the development of multifilamentary MgB2 wires is possible. The present research project proposes the use of other immiscible metal diborides to MgB2, as well as VB2, for generating nanometric structural defects in the superconducting matrix of MgB2, acting on the magnetic flux pinning, in an attempt to effectively improve the transport properties of the material. The diborides to be used will be NbB2 and TiB2, which have the peculiarity to also be superconductors. The production process of these superconducting bulks will be the same as optimized works, using high energy ball milling in controlled atmosphere, cold isostatic pressing, and heat treatment under high pressure. With the optimized results on the MgB2 preparation, a MgB2 multifilamentary superconducting wire with high transport capacity will be projected and developed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA SILVA, L. B. S.; SERQUIS, A.; HELLSTROM, E. E.; RODRIGUES, JR., D.. Artificial pinning centers in MgB2 superconducting bulks. SUPERCONDUCTOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v. 33, n. 4, APR 2020. (18/11521-5)

DA SILVA, L. B. S.; FERREIRA, P. H. O.; RODRIGUES, D.. Study of NbB2 Addition on the Superconducting Behavior of MgB2 Bulks. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, v. 33, n. 5, p. 5-pg., 2023-08-01. (18/11521-5)

DA SILVA, L. B. S.; SERQUIS, A.; HELLSTROM, E. E.; RODRIGUES JR, D.. The effect of AlB2 addition on MgB2 superconducting bulks. SUPERCONDUCTOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v. 36, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2023-04-01. (18/11521-5)