Preparation and critical current density of Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+<i>x</i> superconducting whiskers

Abstract

The whiskers of the Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10(2223) phase have been prepared by heating the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8(2212) whiskers inside of a calcined Bi2Sr2Ca4Cu6Pb0.5Ox powder. Temperature and magnetic field dependence of the critical current density (Jc) have been measured. The whisker yields a maximum Jc of 7.3×104 A/cm2 at 77 K, and higher than 1×104 A/cm2 below 96 K in zero applied field. At 77 K the 2223 whisker shows Jc values above 1×104 A/cm2 up to 1 T, in contrast to the 2212 whisker (1×102 A/cm2, B=1 T) which shows the steep decrease of Jc in magnetic field above 0.2 T.