Effect of CuO addition in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramics

Abstract

The effect of adding CuO matrix to BiF6Pb0.4SrzCa2Cu30 a and YIBa2Cu308 superconductors was investigated through resistivity, XRD, SEM, thermoelectric power (TEP), and ac magnetization studies. Samples with as low as 20% (by weight) of the superconducting phase showed superconducting transition in resistivity-temperature (R-T), with the superconducting zero around 77 K in thermoelectric power, critical current (J~) values were evaluated by applying Bean's critical state model. CuO could be added to the superconducting material without any significant deterioration in the quality of the samples, up to a concentration of as low as 40% (by weight) of the superconducting material.