Enhancing in-field performance of GdBCO coated conductors by cooperative irradiation with Ti ions and protons

Irradiation can accurately manipulate defects and adjust pinning landscapes within REBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (REBCO, RE: rare earths) coated conductors (CCs). This study reports a productive method to dramatically boost the in-field critical current density (J_c) for GdBCO CCs using cooperative irradiation with Ti ions and protons. Remarkably, the in-field J_c of commercial CCs can be almost doubled at a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. Defects of various sizes induced by cooperative irradiation are more uniform distribution through the entire GdBCO film to improve the vortex pinning characteristics, thereby enhancing the in-field performance of the GdBCO CC. This method highlights how combining different particle irradiation types can tailor defect size and distribution, optimizing pinning landscapes for commercial REBCO CCs.