Fabrication of high-entropy REBa2Cu3O7-d thin films by pulsed laser deposition

TL;DR

This paper reports the successful fabrication of high-entropy REBa2Cu3O7-d thin films with enhanced critical current density, demonstrating potential for improved superconducting performance in high magnetic fields and irradiation environments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel high-entropy RE site in REBa2Cu3O7-d thin films, resulting in increased configurational entropy and improved superconducting properties.

Findings

Critical current density exceeds 1.0 MA/cm2 at T < 20 K and H < 7 T.

High-entropy RE films show potential for irradiation tolerance.

Successful fabrication of epitaxial high-entropy REBa2Cu3O7-d thin films.

Abstract

Epitaxial thin films of REBa2Cu3O7-d (RE123, RE: rare earth) having a high entropy (HE) RE site were successfully fabricated on a SrTiO3 substrate by the pulsed laser deposition method. One to five RE elements are solved at the RE site, which results in an increase in configurational entropy of mixing (dSmix). Through the measurements of critical current density (Jc) by a magnetization and the Bean's model analysis, we found that the Jc of the HE films exceeds an order of 1.0 MA/cm2 under conditions of T < 20 K and H < 7 T. Since the HE effects have a potential to an improvement of irradiation tolerance, the present results encourage further development of HE RE123 superconducting materials for a practical use in the environment with high magnetic fields and irradiation, for example in fusion reactors.