A significant improvement in both low- and high-field performance of MgB2 superconductors through graphene oxide doping

The effects of graphene oxide (GO) doping on the superconducting properties of MgB2 were studied using bulk samples made by the diffusion method. Homogeneous dispersions of GO in tetrahydrofuran were obtained through a novel synthesis method, which is then chemically doped with MgB2. It was found that GO doping significantly improves the critical current density, under both low and high magnetic fields, which distinguishes GO from all the other elements doped into MgB2 so far. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.