Superconducting YB6 nanowires

We utilize a high-pressure solid-state technique to prepare yttrium hexaboride (YB6) nanowires at very low temperatures of 200-240 degrees C. The obtained YB6 nanowires are single-crystals grown along [001] direction confirmed by HRTEM and SAED images. From the growth morphology at different time stages and EDS evidence, we proposed that YB6 nanowires are nucleated and grown from the submicron particle clusters. The temperature-dependent magnetization results indicate that YB6 nanostructures undergo a superconducting transition with T-c = 7.8 K, which is higher than that of reported YB6 bulk single-crystals. Furthermore, the YB6 nanostructures reveal a peak effect in superconducting state observed from the magnetic hysteresis loops, approving that YB6 belongs to a type-II superconductor. The lower and upper critical magnetic fields, H-c1 and H-c2, are determined to be 251 Oe and 1104 Oe, respectively.

Automated summary

YB6 nanowires were prepared using a high-pressure solid-state technique at low temperatures, exhibiting superconducting behavior with a transition temperature of 7.8 K. The nanowires belong to a type-II superconductor, as confirmed by the observation of peak effect in the magnetic hysteresis loops.