Deposition of YBCO nanoparticles on graphene nanosheets by using matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation

Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) process demonstrates a versatile and contamination free deposition. Compared to conventional laser ablation deposition, MAPLE technique can realize the retention of the properties and structures of deposited biomaterials and hybrid nanocomposites without damaging the backbone of organic macromolecules. Here, MAPLE process is applied to deposit yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) superconductor particles on graphene sheets. The microstructures and elemental composition of YBCO nano-particle deposited on graphene sheet by the MAPLE process were studied as a function of the irradiation time (t). The amount of YBCO nanoparticles deposited on graphene is increased with increasing t. The average particle size of the spherical YBCO nanoparticles deposited on graphene sheets is decreased from 70 +/- 25 nm to 50 +/- 15 nm when t increases from 0.5 h to 2.0 h. This study demonstrates that MAPLE is a suitable process for depositing superconductor nanoparticles on graphene sheets.