Enhanced Flux Pinning Properties of BaZrO3-doped YBCO Films Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition on LaAlO3(100) Substrates Decorated with Y2O3 Nanoislands

In this work, we intend to investigate the interaction between two types of nanoscaled artificial pinning centers and their pinning properties in YBCO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition technique. The two types of artificial pinning centers were prepared in different processes, (1) Y₂O₃ nanoislands decorated on substrates prior to the deposition of YBCO thin film, and (2) BaZrO₃ nanoparticles self-assembled within YBCO matrix during the deposition of YBCO thin film. We compared the transport characteristics of the YBCO thin films containing these two types of artificial pinning centers with those of pure YBCO thin films grown on decorated substrates and BZO-doped YBCO thin films grown on undecorated substrates. It was found that these two types of artificial pinning centers, which are simultaneously present, acted constructively to enhance the pinning properties of YBCO thin films.