Recent Advances in Pulsed Laser Deposition of REBa2Cu3O7−δ High-Temperature Superconducting Coated Conductors and Artificial Flux Pinning

Rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) high-temperature superconductors, owing to their ability to maintain high critical current density (<i>J</i>_c) under liquid-nitrogen-temperature and high-magnetic-field conditions, are widely regarded as one of the most promising material systems among all superconductors. This review systematically summarizes fabrication strategies for REBCO coated conductors, with a focus on pulsed laser deposition (PLD) for achieving high-quality epitaxial growth with precise composition control. To enhance in-field performance, strategies for introducing artificial pinning centers (APCs) are examined, including rare-earth element doping, substrate surface decoration, and nanoscale secondary phase incorporation. The mechanisms of vortex pinning from different dimensional defects and their synergistic effects are compared. Finally, we suggest potential future directions aimed at further enhancing the superconducting properties.