The effect of Zn substitution of Ca in BiPbSrCaCuO superconductors sintered at 830°C

Abstract

The effect of partial substitution of Ca by Zn in Bi 1.7Pb 0.3Sr 2Ca 2-x Zn x Cu 3O y at x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 levels on the electrical and structural properties was investigated in this work. The characterization of the ceramics prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method were done by resistance-temperature measurements, XRD, SEM and density analysis. Low levels of Zn substitution of Ca caused significant changes in the properties of the ceramics. The low-T c superconducting properties were enhanced and the fraction of the low-T c (2212) phase were found to increase at x=0.15 level of Zn substitution at 830°C sintering temperature. Zero resistance was observed only in sample D with x=0.15 and the T c was determined as 92 K. The SEM micrographs and the density analysis have shown that this was the densest packed ceramic.