Transport properties of iron-based FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting wire

TL;DR

This study reports the fabrication of FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting wires with promising transport properties, showing improvements after heat treatment, highlighting their potential for practical applications.

Contribution

First demonstration of FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting wires with transport properties enhanced by annealing, using an ex-situ PIT method with an Fe sheath.

Findings

Superconducting current observed without heat treatment

Critical temperature increased to 9.1 K after annealing

Transport critical current density improved to 64.1 A/cm2 after heat treatment

Abstract

FeTe0.5Se0.5 superconducting wires have been fabricated using ex-situ PIT method with an Fe sheath. Among the other FeAs-based superconductor, FeTe0.5Se0.5 has great advantage for application due to binary composition and less toxic. Surprisingly, superconducting current was observed in the as-fabricated wire without any heat treatments. Zero resistivity and transport critical current density (Jc) were 3.2 K and 2.8 A/cm2, respectively. In addition, by annealing at 200 degC for 2 h, critical temperature Tczero and Jc were enhanced up to 9.1 K, and 64.1 A/cm2, respectively. This suggests that the grain connectivity was improved by heat treatment, and superconducting property of FeTe0.5Se0.5 wire was enhanced.