Why did you choose the ICMAB for your PhD?
I did my master thesis here and after that I was offered to do the PhD in the same group.
How would you explain your research to a non-scientific audience?
I have studied the modulation of the superconducting properties of a material, which means when the material conducts electric current with no energy loss.
What are the main applications of your research? Could you give us an example?
The obtained layers could be used in metallic tapes for power applications and the fabricated devices in memory devices and neuromorphic applications.
From the lessons learnt here, which one do you value the most?
To have patience and never give up.
What will you miss the most from ICMAB?
The daily talks about recent topics in the office with the colleagues.
How do you think this experience will contribute to your training and to your future?
I learnt a lot of physics, experimental processes and achieved many skills like team work, resilience, communication and to deal with a project.
What are your plans once you finish your PhD?
Look for a job outside of the academy.
What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your PhD, that you can recommend to the ones who are starting?
That there will be tough moments but they will help you grow professionally.
Why did you become a scientist? Who have been your role models?
I liked science and physics in particular. My role model has been my cousin Cristina that also followed the science path and became PhD when I was younger.
Who is your favourite female scientist? And why?
Marie Curie. Is the typical name but it was awesome to be awarded with two Nobel prizes in those times as a woman.
Tailoring the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films by microstructure engineering and local oxygen doping.
Jordi Alcalà, Superconducting Materials and Functional Nanoengineered Structures (SUMAN)
Date: Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Time: 11AM
Venue: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB, CSIC) - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles
Abstract:
Advances in the science of superconductivity have numerous challenges to improve old and create new technologies able to fulfil some of the world biggest challenges; ranging from power applications (storage and transport of clean, sustainable and reliable energy) to novel electronic devices (energy efficient information technologies and data storage systems).
The individual and collective behavior of vortices (nano-tubes of magnetic flux) in a superconductor represents one of the most relevant physical aspects of these materials and it is of enormous practical significance for applications. This has sustained the study of different methods for engineering the vortex pinning landscape in order to infer in vortex dynamics of superconductors. Within this thesis, we have examined the impact of growth temperature on the formation of intrinsic pinning defects in YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) films, grown by chemical solution deposition with Barium-deficient solutions. A clear correlation between the microstructure of the films and their superconducting performance have been obtained. An efficient pinning landscape consisting of stacking faults and associated nanostrain, naturally induced by simply tuning the growth temperature without the need to add artificial pinning sites. Samples grown at optimized temperature exhibited exceptionally high self-field Jc values and improved Jc(T, H, θ) performances.
Supervisors:
Anna Palau
Narcís Mestres
PhD Comitee:
President: Alejandro V. Silhanek, Université de Liègie, Belgium.
Secretary: Elena Bartolome Porcar, Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Spain.
Vocal: Juan Carlos González-Rosillo, Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya (IREC), Spain.
