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Author

S. R. Foltyn

Other affiliations: University of New Mexico, Lucideon
Bio: S. R. Foltyn is an academic researcher from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pulsed laser deposition & Thin film. The author has an hindex of 47, co-authored 192 publications receiving 8089 citations. Previous affiliations of S. R. Foltyn include University of New Mexico & Lucideon.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The question is whether the advantages of superconducting wire, such as efficiency and compactness, can outweigh the disadvantage: cost.
Abstract: Twenty years ago in a series of amazing discoveries it was found that a large family of ceramic cuprate materials exhibited superconductivity at temperatures above, and in some cases well above, that of liquid nitrogen. Imaginations were energized by the thought of applications for zero-resistance conductors cooled with an inexpensive and readily available cryogen. Early optimism, however, was soon tempered by the hard realities of these new materials: brittle ceramics are not easily formed into long flexible conductors; high current levels require near-perfect crystallinity; and — the downside of high transition temperature — performance drops rapidly in a magnetic field. Despite these formidable obstacles, thousands of kilometres of high-temperature superconducting wire have now been manufactured for demonstrations of transmission cables, motors and other electrical power components. The question is whether the advantages of superconducting wire, such as efficiency and compactness, can outweigh the disadvantage: cost. The remaining task for materials scientists is to return to the fundamentals and squeeze as much performance as possible from these wonderful and difficult materials.

691 citations

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TL;DR: The controlled combination of two effective pinning centres (randomly distributed nanoparticles and self-assembled columnar defects) is shown to be possible and effective and to produce thick films with remarkable Ic(H) and nearly isotropic angle dependence.
Abstract: Retaining a dissipation-free state while carrying large electrical currents is a challenge that needs to be solved to enable commercial applications of high-temperature superconductivity. Here, we show that the controlled combination of two effective pinning centres (randomly distributed nanoparticles and self-assembled columnar defects) is possible and effective. By simply changing the temperature or growth rate during pulsed-laser deposition of BaZrO(3)-doped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) films, we can vary the ratio of these defects, tuning the field and angular critical-current (Ic) performance to maximize Ic. We show that the defects' microstructure is governed by the growth kinetics and that the best results are obtained with a mixture of splayed columnar defects and random nanoparticles. The very high Ic arises from a complex vortex pinning landscape where columnar defects provide large pinning energy, while splay and nanoparticles inhibit flux creep. This knowledge is used to produce thick films with remarkable Ic(H) and nearly isotropic angle dependence.

481 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, superconducting and mechanical properties of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) films on Ni-based alloys with a textured yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) buffer layer were reported.
Abstract: We report superconducting and mechanical properties of YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) thick films on Ni‐based alloys with a textured yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) buffer layer. The YBCO and YSZ layers were deposited by pulsed laser deposition and ion beam assisted deposition, respectively. It was found that the transport critical current density (Jc) correlates very well with the YBCO mosaic spread. Jc over 1×10 6 A/cm2 at 75 K and ∼1×107 A/cm2 at 4 K were obtained in the 1‐μm thick YBCO films. Zero field critical current of 120 amps at 75 K was obtained in a 2‐μm‐thick and 1‐cm‐wide YBCO film. Angular dependence measurement revealed Jc peaks for both H∥c and H∥a‐b. The peak for H∥c implies additional pinning due to defects such as small angle grain boundaries or twin boundaries. Bending tests at 75 K showed that the YBCO thick films on the metallic substrates could sustain a strain of 0.4% and over 1% for tension and compression, respectively.

342 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a polymer-assisted deposition (PAD) was proposed to grow metal-oxide films in large areas at low cost using a homogeneous distribution of metal precursors in the solution.
Abstract: Metal oxides are emerging as important materials for their versatile properties such as high-temperature superconductivity, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, piezoelectricity and semiconductivity. Metal-oxide films are conventionally grown by physical and chemical vapour deposition. However, the high cost of necessary equipment and restriction of coatings on a relatively small area have limited their potential applications. Chemical-solution depositions such as sol-gel are more cost-effective, but many metal oxides cannot be deposited and the control of stoichiometry is not always possible owing to differences in chemical reactivity among the metals. Here we report a novel process to grow metal-oxide films in large areas at low cost using polymer-assisted deposition (PAD), where the polymer controls the viscosity and binds metal ions, resulting in a homogeneous distribution of metal precursors in the solution and the formation of uniform metal-organic films. The latter feature makes it possible to grow simple and complex crack-free epitaxial metal-oxides.

300 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, the angular-dependent critical current density (Jc) in YBa2Cu3O7 films deposited on MgO templates grown by ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD), and on single-crystal substrates, is compared.
Abstract: We compare the angular-dependent critical current density (Jc) in YBa2Cu3O7 films deposited on MgO templates grown by ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD), and on single-crystal substrates. We identify three angular regimes in which pinning is dominated by different types of correlated and uncorrelated defects. Those regimes are present in all cases, but their extension and characteristics are sample dependent, reflecting differences in texture and defect density. The more defective nature of the films on IBAD turns into an advantage as it results in higher Jc, demonstrating that the performance of the films on single crystals is not an upper limit for the IBAD coated conductors.

235 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two important future research directions are indicated and summarized, based on results published in the literature: the development of composite and nanostructured ES materials to overcome the major challenge posed by the low energy density.
Abstract: In this critical review, metal oxides-based materials for electrochemical supercapacitor (ES) electrodes are reviewed in detail together with a brief review of carbon materials and conducting polymers. Their advantages, disadvantages, and performance in ES electrodes are discussed through extensive analysis of the literature, and new trends in material development are also reviewed. Two important future research directions are indicated and summarized, based on results published in the literature: the development of composite and nanostructured ES materials to overcome the major challenge posed by the low energy density of ES (476 references).

7,642 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Novel device paradigms based on magnetoelectric coupling are discussed, the key scientific challenges in the field are outlined, and high-quality thin-film multiferroics are reviewed.
Abstract: Multiferroic materials, which show simultaneous ferroelectric and magnetic ordering, exhibit unusual physical properties — and in turn promise new device applications — as a result of the coupling between their dual order parameters. We review recent progress in the growth, characterization and understanding of thin-film multiferroics. The availability of high-quality thin-film multiferroics makes it easier to tailor their properties through epitaxial strain, atomic-level engineering of chemistry and interfacial coupling, and is a prerequisite for their incorporation into practical devices. We discuss novel device paradigms based on magnetoelectric coupling, and outline the key scientific challenges in the field.

3,472 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the technologies and working principles of different materials used in supercapacitors are explained, together with brief explanations of their properties, such as specific surface area and capacitance values.
Abstract: In this review, the technologies and working principles of different materials used in supercapacitors are explained. The most important supercapacitor active materials are discussed from both research and application perspectives, together with brief explanations of their properties, such as specific surface area and capacitance values. A review of different supercapacitor electrolytes is given and their positive and negative features are discussed. Finally, cell configurations are considered, pointing out the advantages and drawbacks of each configuration.

2,082 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of the state of the art in ferroelectric thin films is presented in this paper, where the authors review applications: micro-systems' applications, applications in high frequency electronics, and memories based on Ferroelectric materials.
Abstract: An overview of the state of art in ferroelectric thin films is presented. First, we review applications: microsystems' applications, applications in high frequency electronics, and memories based on ferroelectric materials. The second section deals with materials, structure (domains, in particular), and size effects. Properties of thin films that are important for applications are then addressed: polarization reversal and properties related to the reliability of ferroelectric memories, piezoelectric nonlinearity of ferroelectric films which is relevant to microsystems' applications, and permittivity and loss in ferroelectric films-important in all applications and essential in high frequency devices. In the context of properties we also discuss nanoscale probing of ferroelectrics. Finally, we comment on two important emerging topics: multiferroic materials and ferroelectric one-dimensional nanostructures. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

1,632 citations

Book
12 Mar 2014
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of reflectivity of the surface, when a pure, monochromatic laser (6) is used, is remedied by the simultaneous application of a relatively shorter wavelength beam (1).
Abstract: In the laser treatment of a workpiece (9), e.g. for surface hardening, melting, alloying, cladding, welding or cutting, the adverse effect of reflectivity of the surface, when a pure, monochromatic laser (6) is used, is remedied by the simultaneous application of a relatively shorter wavelength beam (1). The two beams (1)(5) may be combined by a beam coupler (4) or may reach the workpiece (9) by separate optical paths (not shown). The shorter wavelength beam (1) improves the coupling efficiency of the higher- powered laser beam (5).

1,539 citations