Microstructural Aspects of Infiltration Growth YBCO Bulks With Chemical Pinning

Single grain YBa
₂
Cu
₃
O
_7-x
(YBCO, Y123) bulk superconductors were prepared by the infiltration growth process. The solid phase precursor was prepared by solid-state synthesis from Y
₂
O
₃
+BaCuO
₂
powders. The influence of the composition of the source of melt for infiltration and the CeO
₂
addition on the transition temperature and critical current density was studied. It is shown that the studied samples are doped by Yb from the Yb
₂
O
₃
substrate. The dependences of Yb concentration on the distance from the bottom of the samples were measured by the energy dispersive spectroscopy microanalysis at a scanning electron microscope. Correlation between the fabrication technology, level of Yb doping, microstructure, and superconducting properties is discussed.