Sonochemical modification of the superconducting properties of MgB2

Ultrasonic irradiation of magnesium diboride slurries in decalin produces material with significant intergrain fusion. Sonication in the presence of Fe(CO)5 produces magnetic Fe2O3 nanoparticles embedded in the MgB2 bulk. The resulting superconductor–ferromagnet composite exhibits considerable enhancement of its magnetic hysteresis, which implies an increase of vortex pinning strength due to embedded magnetic nanoparticles.