Effects of Dy2 O3 Nanoparticle Addition on Structural and Superconducting Properties of BSCCO

Abstract

To study the effects of Dy2 O3 nanoparticle addition to BSCCO superconducting system, four bulk polycrystalline samples with general formula of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2 Ca2 Cu3 Oy + xDy2 O3 (where, x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 wt%) were prepared by chemical sol-gel method. Dy2 O3 nanoparticles were added to the BSCCO system in order to improve the connectivity among the grains leading to increase in the critical current density (Jc ). X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used for structural characterization of the samples. XRD analysis showed that both (Bi,Pb)-2223 and Bi-2212 phases coexist in the samples having orthorhombic crystal structure. DC electrical resistivity and AC magnetic susceptibility were measured. DC electrical resistivity and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements showed improvements in ∆Tc (Tc, onset‒Tc. R = 0), hole concentration, intergrain connectivity and Jc in BSCCO superconducting system by adding 0.5 wt% Dy2 O3 nanoparticles to it. While for x > 1, DC and AC measurements did not present satisfactory results. Keywords: AC Magnetic Susceptibility, Bi-2223, DC Electrical Resistivity, SEM, TEM, XRD