Nanostructured Superconductors with Efficient Vortex Pinning

The new routes toward preparation of nanostructured YBa₂Cu₃O₇ superconducting thin films and coated conductors, based mainly on pulsed laser and chemical solution deposition methodologies, are being reviewed in this chapter. Particular emphasis is given to clarify the relationship between the artificial nanostructure and the vortex-pinning enhancement. The success achieved in the different approaches indicates that a new frontier of superconducting applications has been opened based on the nanostructured superconductors with high critical currents at high temperatures and magnetic fields much higher than previously devised with any superconductor.