3D-ink-printing of monocrystalline YBCO superconductor

Single-crystal microstructure can bring high performance for many materials including piezoelectrics, semiconductors, and cuprate superconductors. Unlike single-crystal metals that can be machined into complex components, most single-crystal ceramics are limited to the shape of thin films or plates due to their brittleness. However, more designs of advanced devices need to break these geometric limitations. 3D-ink-printing can efficiently fabricate complex architectured ceramics, but the microstructure is polycrystals. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate a route to grow single-crystal on 3D printed ceramic-YBa2 Cu 3 O7-x (YBCO) superconductors that can simultaneously have complex architectures and high critical current density. An ink containing precursor powders was 3D extruded and sintered to obtain polycrystal YBCO micro-lattices. A single-crystal seed is then utilized to grow single crystal on 3D-printed micro-lattices by melt growth method. We found that the geometric details of 3D printed micro-lattice can survive after it went through liquid + solid phase region above its peritectic temperature. More complex YBCO single-crystal parts, such as horizontal and toroidal coils, were then successfully fabricated. In addition, Origami can be implemented on our 3D printed sample to increase their complexity. This research provides a new way to develop superconducting devices such as undulators for synchrotron radiation and microwave cavities for dark-matter axion search.
We expect this new process will inspire more studies about 3D printing of single-crystal ceramics. For example, 3D printing of BaTiO3 can be developed to grow a single crystal for the applications of dielectric capacitors and transducers.