Enhanced flux pinning from CuO inclusions in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy crystals

Abstract
Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy (Bi2212) crystals with CuO inclusions were grown on the surface of KCl flux. The density of CuO incorporations of 109/cm2 was similar to that for Y2BaCuOy in melt-textured YBa2Cu3Oy. The CuO inclusions are needlelike particles with diameter of less than 1 μm. Magnetization measurements show enhanced flux pinning at high magnetic field, compared to crystals without CuO.