Abstract : The overall goal of this project is to develop rational approaches for controlling the nanostructure of high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) and other complex solids. Our emphasis on the nanometer scale is motivated by the recognition that control of structure in this size regime leads in general to materials with enhanced and/or novel electrical, thermal, mechanical, optical and magnetic properties. In this regard, our main objective has been to control the nanometer scale defect structure in HTSs to enhance critical currents. The intrinsic problem of thermally-activated flux flow, which limits critical currents in all HTS materials, can be reduced significantly by creating nanometer diameter columnar defect structure in the HTSs. Specific objectives that have been pursued during the past year include (1) the design of a large scale synthesis of MgO nanorods that function as columnar defects in HTSs, (2) elucidation of factors critical to the creation of a well-defined nanorod/HTS nanostructure in bulk materials, and (3) the development of general approaches to the synthesis of nanowires of other materials.
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