Novel synthesis routes for monodisperse Hf- and Ta-oxide nanoparticles and their use as pinning centra in coated conductors

The synthesis of small sized oxide particles with narrow size distribution and high crystallinity is essential in the application; their use as artificial pinning centers in superconducting coatings. An enhanced pinning force is envisaged, leading to increased current carrying abilities, by the introduction of nanocrystals comparable to the coherence length (2-5 nm).