The doping effect of multiwall carbon nanotube on MgB2/Fe superconductor wire

We evaluated the doping effect of two types of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different aspect ratios on MgB2/Fe monofilament wires. Relationships between microstructure, magnetic critical current density (Jc), critical temperature (Tc), upper critical field (Hc2), and irreversibility field (Hirr) for pure and CNT doped wires were systematically studied for sintering temperature from 650 to 1000°C. As the sintering temperature increased, Tc for short CNT doped sample slightly decreased, while Tc for long CNT doped sample increased. This indicates better reactivity between MgB2 and short CNT due to its small aspect ratio, and substitution of carbon (C) from short CNT for boron (B) occurs. In addition, short CNT doped samples sintered at high temperatures of 900 and 1000 °C exhibited excellent Jc, and this value was approximately 104A/cm2 in fields up to 8 T at 5 K. This suggests that short CNT is a promising carbon source for MgB2 superconductor with excellent Jc. In particular, inclusion of nanosized MgO particles and substitution of C into the MgB2 lattice could result in strong flux pinning centers.