Role of defects in increasing the critical current density of reel-to-reel PLD (Eu,Er)Ba2Cu3Oy+BaHfO3-coated conductors

Given their excellent superconducting properties, REBa2Cu3Oy (REBCO)-coated conductors (CCs) are anticipated to be utilized in a variety of magnet applications. To further increase the critical current density J(c) of these materials to levels needed for commercial applications, this study employs reel-to-reel (RTR) pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to fabricate REBCO+BaHfO3 (BHO) CCs. PLD creates BHO nanorods, which serve as flux-pinning defects. The material is subjected to O2+ irradiation to introduce more defects. The irradiation-induced defects serve as flux-pinning centers to the REBCO+BHO-nanorod CCs, increasing J(c) along the c axis and over a wide range of magnetic-field angles compared with conventional REBCO+BHO-nanorod CCs. Both nanorods and irradiation-induced defects are demonstrated to be effective pinning centers in this material.