One step synthesis of SmO1-xFxFeAs bulks with Tc = 54.6 K: High upper critical field and critical current density

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, scalable one-step synthesis method for SmO1-xFxFeAs superconductors, achieving a transition temperature of 54.6 K, high critical fields, and exceptional critical current densities with potential for broad application.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel one-step sintering process for SmO1-xFxFeAs superconductors, enabling high performance and easy scalability compared to traditional methods.

Findings

Superconducting transition temperature of 54.6 K achieved.

Critical current density reached 8.5x10^3 A/cm^2 at 5 K.

High upper critical field Hc2(0) >= 200 T confirmed.

Abstract

A safe, simple and easily scaleable one-step sintering method is proposed to fabricate newly discovered superconductors of SmO1-xFxFeAs. Superconducting transition with the onset temperature of 54.6 K and high critical fields Hc2(0) >=200 T were confirmed in SmO1-xFxFeAs with x = 0.3. At 5 K and self field, critical current density Jc estimated from the magnetization hysteresis using the whole sample size and the average particle size reached 8.5x10^3 and 1.2x10^6 A/cm^2, respectively. Moreover, the Jc exhibited a very weak dependence on magnetic field. Microstructural characterizations revealed that the whole sample Jc improvement could be achieved by either perfect texture or optimization of fabrication process in this strongly-layered superconductor. Our results clearly demonstrated that one-step synthesis technique is unique and versatile and hence can be tailored easily for other rare earth derivatives of REFeAsO superconductors.