Effects of Ni irradiation on electron–phonon coupling and flux pinning in MgB2 film via Raman spectroscopy

D Duong T. T. Nhan (Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,) A An T. Pham (Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,) T Tien Le (University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology 2 Department of General Education, , 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Hanoi 100000,) W Won-Nam Kang (Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,) D Dzung T. Tran (Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,) H Hong-Gu Lee (Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,) J Jungseek Hwang (Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,) N Nguyen Hoang Nam H Ha H. Pham (Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,) K Khoi M. C. Pham (Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,) P Pham Ngoc Thao (Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, VNU University of Engineering and Technology 4 , Hanoi 100000,) P Phan Hai (Vietnam National University 5 Faculty of Engineering Physics and Technology, , Hanoi 100000,) S Soo-Kien Chen (Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia 6 , 43400 Serdang, Selangor,) M M. Dogruer (Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University 7 , Bolu,) K Kieu Xuan Thuy (Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,) D Duc H. Tran (Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,)

Abstract

Effects of Ni-ion irradiation on the structural and flux-pinning properties of MgB2 films were investigated with particular importance on the role of Raman spectroscopy. MgB2 films (∼400 nm thick) were fabricated on c-cut Al2O3 substrates using a hybrid physicochemical vapor deposition technique and irradiated with 1 MeV Ni ions at doses ranging from 3 × 1013 to 9 × 1013 ions/cm2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy were examined to characterize the crystallinity and electron–phonon coupling (EPC) in the films, while magnetization measurements provided insights into the superconducting properties. The XRD results confirmed that all films were highly c-axis oriented, and the c-axis lattice constant slightly increased with increased Ni-ion dose. Raman spectra revealed significant changes in the E2g phonon mode, including shifts in peak positions and broadened FWHM (full-width at half-maximum), indicative of EPC degradation and the introduction of lattice disorder at an atomic scale. The decrease in the critical temperature (Tc) with increasing Ni-ion dose was correlated with these spectroscopic changes. The self-field critical current density (Jc) of the pristine MgB2 film was well maintained to be 4 × 106 A/cm2 at 20 K. Above the field of ∼2.5 T, the Jc was observed to clearly enhance and reach a maximum at a Ni-ion dose of 5 × 10¹³ ions/cm2, and Jc was maintained ∼103 A/cm2 at the field of ∼3.7 T. The observations might reveal the dominance of core point pinning, which resulted from the Ni-ion irradiation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 138, Issue 7
Published August 21, 2025
ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Journal of Applied Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979 Physical Sciences

Authors (16)

D

Duong T. T. Nhan

Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,

A

An T. Pham

Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,

T

Tien Le

University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology 2 Department of General Education, , 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Hanoi 100000,

W

Won-Nam Kang

Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,

D

Dzung T. Tran

Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,

H

Hong-Gu Lee

Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,

J

Jungseek Hwang

Department of Physics, Sungkyunkwan University 3 , Suwon 16419,

N

Nguyen Hoang Nam

H

Ha H. Pham

Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,

K

Khoi M. C. Pham

Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,

P

Pham Ngoc Thao

Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, VNU University of Engineering and Technology 4 , Hanoi 100000,

P

Phan Hai

Vietnam National University 5 Faculty of Engineering Physics and Technology, , Hanoi 100000,

S

Soo-Kien Chen

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Putra Malaysia 6 , 43400 Serdang, Selangor,

M

M. Dogruer

Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University 7 , Bolu,

K

Kieu Xuan Thuy

Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,

D

Duc H. Tran

Nano & Energy Center, Faculty of Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University 1 , Hanoi 100000,