Huge critical current density and tailored superconducting anisotropy in SmFeAsO₀.₈F₀.₁₅ by low-density columnar-defect incorporation

Quadrupling the depairing current density in the iron-based superconductor SmFeAsO1-xHx

Iron-based 1111-type superconductors display high critical temperatures and relatively high critical current densities Jc. The typical approach to increasing Jc is to introduce defects to control dissipative vortex motion. However, when optimized, this approach is theoretically predicted to be limited to achieving a maximum Jc of only ∼30% of the depairing current density Jd, which depends on the coherence length and the penetration depth. Here we dramatically boost Jc in SmFeAsO1-xHx films using a thermodynamic approach aimed at increasing Jd and incorporating vortex pinning centres. Specifically, we reduce the penetration depth, coherence length and critical field anisotropy by increasing the carrier density through high electron doping using H substitution. Remarkably, the quadrupled Jd reaches 415 MA cm-2, a value comparable to cuprates. Finally, by introducing defects using proton irradiation, we obtain high Jc values in fields up to 25 T. We apply this method to other iron-based superconductors and achieve a similar enhancement of current densities.

Enhanced Superconductivity and Critical Current Density Due to the Interaction of InSe2 Bonded Layer in (InSe2)0.12NbSe2

Superconductivity was discovered in (InSe2)xNbSe2. The materials are crystallized in a unique layered structure where bonded InSe2 layers are intercalated into the van der Waals gaps of 2H-phase NbSe2. The (InSe2)0.12NbSe2 superconductor exhibits a superconducting transition at 11.6 K and critical current density of 8.2 × 105 A/cm2. Both values are the highest among all transition metal dichalcogenide superconductors at ambient pressure. The present finding provides an ideal material platform for further investigation of superconducting-related phenomena in transition metal dichalcogenides.

Phase Formation of Iron-Based Superconductors during Mechanical Alloying

We successfully synthesized bulk Ba_0.6Na_0.4Fe₂As₂ and Sr_0.5Na_0.5Fe₂As₂ compounds by high-energy mechanical alloying (MA) technique. The MA process results in homogeneous amorphous phases of BaFe₂As₂ and SrFe₂As₂. It was found that the optimum time for high-energy milling in all cases is about 1.5-2 h, and the maximum amount of amorphous phase could be obtained when energy of 50-100 MJ/kg was absorbed by the powder. After a short-term heat treatment, we obtained nearly optimum sodium-doped Ba_1-xNa_xFe₂As₂ and Sr_1-xNa_xFe₂As₂ superconducting bulk samples. Therefore, MA is a potential scalable method to produce bulk superconducting material for industrial needs.

Second magnetization peak, anomalous field penetration, and Josephson vortices in KCa[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]As[Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text] bilayer pnictide superconductor

We performed magnetization measurements in a single crystal of the anisotropic bilayer pnictide superconductor KCa[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]As[Formula: see text]F[Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 34 K, for [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-axis and [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-planes. A second magnetization peak (SMP) was observed in the isothermal M(H) curves measured below 16 K for [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-planes. A peak in the temperature variation of the critical current density, [Formula: see text](T), at 16 K, strongly suggests the emergence of Josephson vortices at lower temperatures, which leads to the SMP in the sample. In addition, it is noticed that the appearance of Josephson vortices below 16 K renders easy magnetic flux penetration. A detailed vortex dynamics study suggests that the SMP can be explained in terms of elastic pinning to plastic pinning crossover. Furthermore, contrary to the common understanding, the temperature variation of the first peak field, [Formula: see text], below and above 16 K, behaves non-monotonically. A highly disordered vortex phase, governed by plastic pinning, has been observed between 17 and 23 K, within a field region around an extremely large first peak field. Pinning force scaling suggests that the point defects are the dominant source of pinning for H [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-planes, whereas, for H [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-axis, point defects in addition to surface defects are at play. Such disorder contributes to the pinning due to the variation in charge carrier mean free path, [Formula: see text] -pinning. Moreover, the large [Formula: see text] observed in our study is consistent with the literature, which advocates this material for high magnetic field applications.

Superconductivity-driven ferromagnetism and spin manipulation using vortices in the magnetic superconductor EuRbFe4As4

Magnetic superconductors are specific materials exhibiting two antagonistic phenomena, superconductivity and magnetism, whose mutual interaction induces various emergent phenomena, such as the reentrant superconducting transition associated with the suppression of superconductivity around the magnetic transition temperature (T m), highlighting the impact of magnetism on superconductivity. In this study, we report the experimental observation of the ferromagnetic order induced by superconducting vortices in the high-critical-temperature (high-T c) magnetic superconductor EuRbFe4As4 Although the ground state of the Eu2+ moments in EuRbFe4As4 is helimagnetism below T m, neutron diffraction and magnetization experiments show a ferromagnetic hysteresis of the Eu2+ spin alignment. We demonstrate that the direction of the Eu2+ moments is dominated by the distribution of pinned vortices based on the critical state model. Moreover, we demonstrate the manipulation of spin texture by controlling the direction of superconducting vortices, which can help realize spin manipulation devices using magnetic superconductors.

Microscopic origin of highly enhanced current carrying capabilities of thin NdFeAs(O,F) films

Fe-based superconductors present a large variety of compounds whose physical properties strongly depend on the crystal structure and chemical composition. Among them, the so-called 1111 compounds show the highest critical temperature T _c in the bulk form. Here we demonstrate the realization of excellent superconducting properties in NdFeAs(O_1-x F _x ). We systematically investigated the correlation between the microstructure at the nanoscale and superconductivity in an epitaxial 22 nm NdFeAs(O_1-x F _x ) thin film on a MgO single crystalline substrate (T _c = 44.7 K). Atomic resolution analysis of the microstructure by transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography identified several defects and other inhomogeneities at the nanoscale that can act as extrinsic pinning centers. X-Ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy displayed a broad variation of the a-axis lattice parameter either due to a partially strained layer at the interface to the substrate, high local strain at dislocation arrays, mosaicity, or due to composition variation within the film. The electrical transport properties are substantially affected by intrinsic pinning and a matching field corresponding to the film thickness and associated with the Bean-Livingston surface barrier of the surfaces. The thin film showed a self-field critical current density J _c(4.2 K) of ∼7.6 MA cm^-2 and a record pinning force density of F _p ≈ 1 TN m^-3 near 35 T for H‖ab at 4.2 K. These investigations highlight the role of the microstructure in fine-tuning and possibly functionalizing the superconductivity of Fe-based superconductors.

Glassy Dynamics in a heavy ion irradiated NbSe2 crystal

Fascination with glassy states has persisted since Fisher introduced the vortex-glass as a new thermodynamic phase that is a true superconductor that lacks conventional long-range order. Though Fisher's original model considered point disorder, it was later predicted that columnar defects (CDs) could also induce glassiness - specifically, a Bose-glass phase. In YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO), glassy states can cause distinct behavior in the temperature (T ) dependent rate of thermally activated vortex motion (S). The vortex-glass state produces a plateau in S(T ) whereas a Bose-glass can transition into a state hosting vortex excitations called double-kinks that can expand, creating a large peak in S(T ). Although glass phases have been well-studied in YBCO, few studies exist of other materials containing CDs that could contribute to distinguishing universal behavior. Here, we report on the effectiveness of CDs tilted ~30° from the c-axis in reducing S in a NbSe2 crystal. The magnetization is 5 times higher and S is minimized when the field is parallel to the defects versus aligned with the c-axis. We see signatures of glassiness in both field orientations, but do not observe a peak in S(T ) nor a plateau at values observed in YBCO. Finally, we discuss the possibility that competing disorder induces a field-orientation-driven transition from a Bose-glass to an anisotropic glass involving both point and columnar disorder.

Nodeless superconductivity in the cage-type superconductor Sc5Ru6Sn18 with preserved time-reversal symmetry

We report the single-crystal synthesis and detailed investigations of the cage-type superconductor Sc₅Ru₆Sn₁₈, using powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetization, specific-heat and muon-spin relaxation (µSR) measurements. Sc₅Ru₆Sn₁₈ crystallizes in a tetragonal structure (space group I4₁/acd) with lattice parameters a  =  1.387(3) nm and c  =  2.641(5) nm. Both DC and AC magnetization measurements prove the type-II superconductivity in Sc₅Ru₆Sn₁₈ with T _c  ≈  3.5(1) K, a lower critical field [Formula: see text]  =  157(9) Oe and an upper critical field, [Formula: see text]  =  26(1) kOe. The zero-field electronic specific-heat data are well fitted using a single-gap BCS model, with [Formula: see text]  =  0.64(1) meV. The Sommerfeld constant γ varies linearly with the applied magnetic field, indicating s-wave superconductivity in Sc₅Ru₆Sn₁₈. Specific-heat and transverse-field (TF) µSR measurements reveal that Sc₅Ru₆Sn₁₈ is a superconductor with strong electron-phonon coupling, with TF-µSR also suggesting a single-gap s-wave character of the superconductivity. Furthermore, zero-field µSR measurements do not detect spontaneous magnetic fields below T _c, hence implying that time-reversal symmetry is preserved in Sc₅Ru₆Sn₁₈.

A peak in the critical current for quantum critical superconductors

Generally, studies of the critical current I_c are necessary if superconductors are to be of practical use, because I_c sets the current limit below which there is a zero-resistance state. Here, we report a peak in the pressure dependence of the zero-field I_c, I_c(0), at a hidden quantum critical point (QCP), where a continuous antiferromagnetic transition temperature is suppressed by pressure toward 0 K in CeRhIn₅ and 4.4% Sn-doped CeRhIn₅. The I_c(0)s of these Ce-based compounds under pressure exhibit a universal temperature dependence, underlining that the peak in zero-field I_c(P) is determined predominantly by critical fluctuations associated with the hidden QCP. The dc conductivity σ_dc is a minimum at the QCP, showing anti-correlation with I_c(0). These discoveries demonstrate that a quantum critical point hidden inside the superconducting phase in strongly correlated materials can be exposed by the zero-field I_c, therefore providing a direct link between a QCP and unconventional superconductivity.

Triplex DNA Nanostructures: From Basic Properties to Applications

Triplex nucleic acids have recently attracted interest as part of the rich "toolbox" of structures used to develop DNA-based nanostructures and materials. This Review addresses the use of DNA triplexes to assemble sensing platforms and molecular switches. Furthermore, the pH-induced, switchable assembly and dissociation of triplex-DNA-bridged nanostructures are presented. Specifically, the aggregation/deaggregation of nanoparticles, the reversible oligomerization of origami tiles and DNA circles, and the use of triplex DNA structures as functional units for the assembly of pH-responsive systems and materials are described. Examples include semiconductor-loaded DNA-stabilized microcapsules, DNA-functionalized dye-loaded metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and the pH-induced release of the loads. Furthermore, the design of stimuli-responsive DNA-based hydrogels undergoing reversible pH-induced hydrogel-to-solution transitions using triplex nucleic acids is introduced, and the use of triplex DNA to assemble shape-memory hydrogels is discussed. An outlook for possible future applications of triplex nucleic acids is also provided.

Vortices in high-performance high-temperature superconductors

The behavior of vortex matter in high-temperature superconductors (HTS) controls the entire electromagnetic response of the material, including its current carrying capacity. Here, we review the basic concepts of vortex pinning and its application to a complex mixed pinning landscape to enhance the critical current and to reduce its anisotropy. We focus on recent scientific advances that have resulted in large enhancements of the in-field critical current in state-of-the-art second generation (2G) YBCO coated conductors and on the prospect of an isotropic, high-critical current superconductor in the iron-based superconductors. Lastly, we discuss an emerging new paradigm of critical current by design-a drive to achieve a quantitative correlation between the observed critical current density and mesoscale mixed pinning landscapes by using realistic input parameters in an innovative and powerful large-scale time dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach to simulating vortex dynamics.

A route for a strong increase of critical current in nanostrained iron-based superconductors

The critical temperature T_c and the critical current density J_c determine the limits to large-scale superconductor applications. Superconductivity emerges at T_c. The practical current-carrying capability, measured by J_c, is the ability of defects in superconductors to pin the magnetic vortices, and that may reduce T_c. Simultaneous increase of T_c and J_c in superconductors is desirable but very difficult to realize. Here we demonstrate a route to raise both T_c and J_c together in iron-based superconductors. By using low-energy proton irradiation, we create cascade defects in FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 films. T_c is enhanced due to the nanoscale compressive strain and proximity effect, whereas J_c is doubled under zero field at 4.2 K through strong vortex pinning by the cascade defects and surrounding nanoscale strain. At 12 K and above 15 T, one order of magnitude of J_c enhancement is achieved in both parallel and perpendicular magnetic fields to the film surface.

Simultaneous increase of critical temperature and critical current in superconductors is desirable for application purpose, but very difficult to realize. Here, Ozaki et al. report a simultaneous enhancement of T_c and J_c in FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 films with cascade defects produced by low-energy proton irradiation.

Effects of introducing isotropic artificial defects on the superconducting properties of differently doped Ba-122 based single crystals

The effects of isotropic artifical defects, introduced via fast neutron (E > 0.1 MeV) irradiation, on the physical properties of differently (Co, P and K) doped BaFe2As2 superconducting single crystals were studied. The Co- and P-doped single crystals showed a second peak in the magnetization curve (fishtail effect) in the pristine state. Significant variations in the radiation-induced changes in the critical current density Jc were observed in the different types of crystal, while the irreversibility fields did not change remarkably. The highest Jcs were obtained for the K-doped crystal, exceeding 3 × 10(10) Am(-2) (T = 5 K, B = 4 T) and remaining above 8.5 × 10(9) Am(-2) at 30 K and 1 T. The pinning force was analyzed to compare the pinning mechanisms of the individual samples. While distinct differences were found before the irradiation, the same pinning behavior prevails afterwards. The pinning efficiency η = Jc/Jd was estimated from the depairing current density Jd. η was similar in all irradiated crystals and comparable to the value in neutron irradiated cuprates, suggesting that the huge critical current densities measured in the irradiated K-doped crystal are due to its large depairing current density, making this compound the most promising for applications.

Toward Superconducting Critical Current by Design

A new critical-current-by-design paradigm is presented. It aims at predicting the optimal defect landscape in superconductors for targeted applications by elucidating the vortex dynamics responsible for the bulk critical current. To this end, critical current measurements on commercial high-temperature superconductors are combined with large-scale time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations of vortex dynamics.

Distinct doping dependence of critical temperature and critical current density in Ba1-xKxFe2As2 superconductor

Since the high transition temperature (High-Tc) superconductivity was discovered in the series of materials containing iron (Fe), their potential for the applications has been extensively scrutinized. In particular, a lot of effort has been made in achieving the high current-carrying ability by revealing the vortex pinning behavior. Here, we report on the critical current density (Jc) for the pristine Ba1-xKxFe2As2 single crystals with various K concentrations (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 0.52) determined by the magnetization hysteresis loop measurements. The x-dependence of Jc is characterized by a spike-like peak at x ~ 0.30, which corresponds to the under-doped region. This behavior is distinct from a moderate Tc dome with a broad maximum spanning from x ~ 0.3 to 0.5. For the under-doped samples, with increasing magnetic field (H), a second magnetization peak in Jc is observed, whereas for the optimally- and over-doped samples, Jc monotonically decreases with H. This result emphasizes that fine tuning of doping composition is important to obtain strong flux pinning. The origin of the characteristic doping dependence of Jc is discussed in connection with the orthorhombic phase domain boundary, as well as the chemical inhomogeneity introduced by the dopant substitutions.

Second magnetization peak effect, vortex dynamics, and flux pinning in 112-type superconductor Ca0.8La0.2Fe(1-x)CoxAs2

Investigation of vortex pinning and its relaxation is of great importance for both basic physics and technological applications in the field of superconductivity. We report a great improvement of superconducting properties in the recently discovered 112-type superconductors (Ca, La)FeAs2 through Co co-doping. High critical current density Js(5 K) > 2(*)10(6) A/cm(2) is obtained and pronounced second peak effect is observed in magnetization hysteresis loops. Both the dynamic and static relaxation studies result in comparable and sizable relaxation rates S or Q, indicating a fast vortex creep. The second magnetization peak (SMP) is found to be strongly associated with a crossover from elastic to plastic vortex creep. Above the crossover, plastic vortex creep governs the vortex dynamics in a wide range of temperatures and fields. A good scaling behavior of the normalized pinning force density fp by formula fp = h(p)(1-h)(q) ((p) = 1.44, q = 1.66, h = 0.44) is revealed, which demonstrates an important contribution from core normal point-like pinning sites. To better understand the SMP phenomenon, we discuss the related physical scenario as well as the affecting factors in the SMP occurrence.

High field superconducting properties of Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 thin films

In general, the critical current density, J_c, of type II superconductors and its anisotropy with respect to magnetic field orientation is determined by intrinsic and extrinsic properties. The Fe-based superconductors of the ‘122’ family with their moderate electronic anisotropies and high yet accessible critical fields (H_c2 and H_irr) are a good model system to study this interplay. In this paper, we explore the vortex matter of optimally Co-doped BaFe₂As₂ thin films with extended planar and c-axis correlated defects. The temperature and angular dependence of the upper critical field is well explained by a two-band model in the clean limit. The dirty band scenario, however, cannot be ruled out completely. Above the irreversibility field, the flux motion is thermally activated, where the activation energy U₀ is going to zero at the extrapolated zero-kelvin H_irr value. The anisotropy of the critical current density J_c is both influenced by the H_c2 anisotropy (and therefore by multi-band effects) as well as the extended planar and columnar defects present in the sample.

Giant enhancement in critical current density, up to a hundredfold, in superconducting NaFe0.97Co0.03 As single crystals under hydrostatic pressure

Tremendous efforts towards improvement in the critical current density "Jc" of iron based superconductors (FeSCs), especially at relatively low temperatures and magnetic fields, have been made so far through different methods, resulting in real progress. Jc at high temperatures in high fields still needs to be further improved, however, in order to meet the requirements of practical applications. Here, we demonstrate a simple approach to achieve this. Hydrostatic pressure can significantly enhance Jc in NaFe0.97Co0.03As single crystals by at least tenfold at low field and more than a hundredfold at high fields. Significant enhancement in the in-field performance of NaFe0.97Co0.03As single crystal in terms of pinning force density (Fp) is found at high pressures. At high fields, the Fp is over 20 and 80 times higher than under ambient pressure at12 K and 14 K, respectively, at P = 1 GPa. We believe that the Co-doped NaFeAs compounds are very exciting and deserve to be more intensively investigated. Finally, it is worthwhile to say that by using hydrostatic pressure, we can achieve more milestones in terms of high Jc values in tapes, wires or films of other Fe-based superconductors.

Imaging atomic-scale effects of high-energy ion irradiation on superconductivity and vortex pinning in Fe(Se,Te)

Maximizing the sustainable supercurrent density, J C, is crucial to high-current applications of superconductivity. To achieve this, preventing dissipative motion of quantized vortices is key. Irradiation of superconductors with high-energy heavy ions can be used to create nanoscale defects that act as deep pinning potentials for vortices. This approach holds unique promise for high-current applications of iron-based superconductors because J C amplification persists to much higher radiation doses than in cuprate superconductors without significantly altering the superconducting critical temperature. However, for these compounds, virtually nothing is known about the atomic-scale interplay of the crystal damage from the high-energy ions, the superconducting order parameter, and the vortex pinning processes. We visualize the atomic-scale effects of irradiating FeSe x Te1-x with 249-MeV Au ions and find two distinct effects: compact nanometer-sized regions of crystal disruption or "columnar defects," plus a higher density of single atomic site "point" defects probably from secondary scattering. We directly show that the superconducting order is virtually annihilated within the former and suppressed by the latter. Simultaneous atomically resolved images of the columnar crystal defects, the superconductivity, and the vortex configurations then reveal how a mixed pinning landscape is created, with the strongest vortex pinning occurring at metallic core columnar defects and secondary pinning at clusters of point-like defects, followed by collective pinning at higher fields.

Hydrostatic pressure: a very effective approach to significantly enhance critical current density in granular iron pnictide superconductors

Pressure is well known to significantly raise the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, in both iron pnictides and cuprate based superconductors. Little work has been done, however, on how pressure can affect the flux pinning and critical current density in the Fe-based superconductors. Here, we propose to use hydrostatic pressure to significantly enhance flux pinning and T_c in polycrystalline pnictide bulks. We have chosen Sr₄V₂O₆Fe₂As₂ polycrystalline samples as a case study. We demonstrate that the hydrostatic pressure up to 1.2 GPa can not only significantly increase T_c from 15 K (underdoped) to 22 K, but also significantly enhance the irreversibility field, H_irr, by a factor of 4 at 7 K, as well as the critical current density, J_c, by up to 30 times at both low and high fields. It was found that pressure can induce more point defects, which are mainly responsible for the J_c enhancement. Our findings provide an effective method to significantly enhance T_c, J_c, H_irr, and the upper critical field, H_c2, for other families of Fe-based superconductors in the forms of wires/tapes, films, and single crystal and polycrystalline bulks.

Probing dynamics and pinning of single vortices in superconductors at nanometer scales

The dynamics of quantized magnetic vortices and their pinning by materials defects determine electromagnetic properties of superconductors, particularly their ability to carry non-dissipative currents. Despite recent advances in the understanding of the complex physics of vortex matter, the behavior of vortices driven by current through a multi-scale potential of the actual materials defects is still not well understood, mostly due to the scarcity of appropriate experimental tools capable of tracing vortex trajectories on nanometer scales. Using a novel scanning superconducting quantum interference microscope we report here an investigation of controlled dynamics of vortices in lead films with sub-Angstrom spatial resolution and unprecedented sensitivity. We measured, for the first time, the fundamental dependence of the elementary pinning force of multiple defects on the vortex displacement, revealing a far more complex behavior than has previously been recognized, including striking spring softening and broken-spring depinning, as well as spontaneous hysteretic switching between cellular vortex trajectories. Our results indicate the importance of thermal fluctuations even at 4.2 K and of the vital role of ripples in the pinning potential, giving new insights into the mechanisms of magnetic relaxation and electromagnetic response of superconductors.