Structural and morphological studies of YBCO doped with α-CNTs

A co-precipitation technique has been used to synthesize nanoscale Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO) superconducting oxide materials doped with amorphous carbon nanotubes (α-CNTs). Carbon nano-tubes were chosen as doping materials since their nanometer diameter can serve as the effective pinning centers compared to the ordinary carbon. The properties of materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM image show the α-CNTs. XRD pattern indicated the formation of single phase YBCO. FESEM images show the agglomerated YBCO particles after doping with α-CNTs.