Investigation of superconducting and elastic parameters of YBCO/LSMO thick films

The variations of superconducting and mechanical properties of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) [x = 0.0, 0.1, and 0.2] doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) composite thick films were examined. All the composite films were synthesized by diffusion reaction technique. The structural and morphological analysis were investigated through X-ray powder diffraction along with Rietveld refinement and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) respectively. The transport measurement suggested that the inclusion of ferromagnetic LSMO decreases the superconducting transition temperature ($T_C^{on}$) and enhances the residual resistivity (ρ₀). The broadening of resistive transition occurs below the onset transition temperature and shows the dissipative flux pinning. Various superconducting parameters were obtained from the excess conductivity analysis of the composite films and were in good agreement with the experimental findings. The mechanical strength of all the composite films was explained through different models like Hays–Kendall model, Elastic/Plastic deformation model and Proportional specimen resistance model.