Effect of Eu Substitution in Low Density Bi (Pb)-2223 High Temperature Superconductors

Abstract

High temperature superconductor ceramic of low density Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2(Ca2-xEux)Cu3Oy both doped and non-doped, have been produced by the method of conventional solid state reaction synthesis. The effects of rare earth doping on the low density superconducting compound have been studied by considering Eu substitution at Ca site to stoichiometric of Bi (Pb)-2223 with x ranging from 0.000 to 0.2000. The experimental works in this study consist of direct-current (DC) electrical resistance-temperature and critical current density measurements for both electrical and superconducting properties, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase analyses and lattice parameters while Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) for surface morphology. All the Eu-doped samples consist of both low-Tc Bi (Pb)-2212 and High-Tc Bi (Pb)-2223 phases. The substitution of Eu at the Ca site induced the decrease of volume fraction for the Bi (Pb)-2223 phase and the increase of the volume fraction for Bi (Pb)-2212 phase. Eu doping does not enhance the Tc zero but gradually decrease its value and become semiconducting at higher dopant concentration with x=0.200. From FESEM investigation, the grain size started to degrade from x=0.000 to x=0.0100 and form smaller plate-like grain which belong to Bi (Pb)-2212 phase and the grain particles are seem to be coagulated to form clusters for x=0.200.