Microstructural, phase formation, and superconducting properties of bulk yba₂ cu₃ o_y superconductors grown by infiltration growth process utilizing the yba₂ cu₃ o_y + erba₂ cu₃ o_y + ba₃ cu₅ o₈ as a liquid source

The infiltration growth (IG) process is well-known as the most established technique consisting of Y₂ BaCuO₅ (Y211) precursor powders and liquid phases toward the fabrication of bulk YBa₂ Cu₃ O_y (Y123) superconductor for high field industrial applications. We have reported the fabrication of Y123 bulks using this technique at various ratios of liquid phase source. In this study, the use of liquid phase source toward the infiltration growth of bulk Y123 superconductors at different ratios of Y123 and ErBa₂ Cu₃ O_y (Er123) mixed with Ba₃ Cu₅ O₈ (Y035) was investigated to control the Y211 secondary phase content in bulk Y123 samples. The liquid phase content was optimized by varying the mass. The sample fabricated using Y123 liquid phase (Y₁ Er₀ ) showed the onset of critical temperature T_c-onset = 91.85 K. T_c-onset slightly decreased with the addition of Er123. Microstructure analysis revealed a uniform distribution of Y211 secondary phase particles in the Y123 matrix. The Y₁ Er₀ sample had the smallest of Y211 particle size among the samples with average size of 0.992 µm. The formation of this smaller-sized Y211 particles with uniform distributions that act as an effective pinning center, had improved the critical current density, J_c of the sample Y₁ Er₀ at 77 K with H//c-axis having the highest J_c 54.15 kA/cm² and 11.45 kA/cm² in self-field and 2 T, respectively. The binary mixed of rare earth superconductors (Y123 + Er123) used in the liquid phase could be used to further improve the superconducting properties of Y123 single grains.