Fabrication and characterization of superconducting nanowires and nanowire networks by electrospinning

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael Koblischka
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316867631

The present project aims to explore the properties of superconducting nanowires and the non-woven nanowire-networks of high-Tc superconductors produced by means of electrospinning. In this way, long nanowires (up to 100 µm) with diameters of 150-200 nm can be fabricated, allowing basic reasearch of the superconducting properties. Additionally, the as-grown, fabric-like non-woven nanowire networks of the nanowires form a new class of superconducting material, which will be explored in detail.The basic superconducting properties of individual nanowires (cut from the networks by FIB milling) will be studied by transport and magnetic measurements. Here, magnetic measurements using cantilever magnetometers will be enabled for the first time, as there is no substrate and no contact pads which will disturb the magnetic data. The superconducting properties of the nanowire networks will be explored by angle-dependent transport measurements and magnetic measurements in order to study the (magnetic) properties of the numerous interconnects within the fabric-like structure. Modelling of the magnetization data using two approaches will be carried out in order to determine the critical current densities and other properties like the flux pinning forces, the irreversibility fields and the pinning potential. The goal of these analyses is to obtain a complete picture of this new material in order to judge about possible applications of this light-weight material.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants