Journal of Materials Science, Vol.43, No.5, 1664-1668, 2008
YBCO nanofibers synthesized by electrospinning a solution of poly(acrylic acid) and metal nitrates
A versatile approach to the synthesis of YBCO (high temperature superconductor ceramics) nanofibers via electrospinning a polymer precursor solution is reported. The aqueous polymer precursor solution consists of poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) and a mixture of yttrium nitrate, barium nitrate, and copper nitrate, henceforth termed (Y,Ba,Cu)-N. The conductivity of the polymer precursor solution at 27.1 degrees C was 14.70 mS/cm, its zero shear viscosity was 52.00 cP, and its pH was 1.88. Typical YBCO nanofibers were 50-100 nm in diameter and around of 10 mu m length. The nanofibers also contain relatively small amounts of yttrium oxide and copper yttrium oxide.