Effect of Na substitution and Ag addition on the superconducting properties of Bi-2212 textured materials

Abstract

The effect of Ag addition on the structural and superconducting properties of Bi2Sr2Ca0.925Na0.075Cu2Oy + x wt% Ag materials with x = 0, 1, 3, and 5 prepared by sol–gel method, followed by directional growth using the laser floating zone (LFZ) technique has been investigated. Powder XRD measurements demonstrate that all samples are composed by nearly single Bi-2212 phase. SEM micrographs and EDX results confirms that Bi-2212 is the major phase with minor amounts of a Bi-free one (Sr,Ca)CuO2 and metallic Ag. According to the magnetic results, Ag does not modify the superconducting critical temperature, T c , but significantly increases the magnetic hysteresis loop area. The magnetic critical current density is maximum in the 3 wt% Ag containing samples, due to the larger grain clusters found in these samples, reaching 2.1 × 105 A/cm2 at 10 K. Moreover, Ag addition also improves the rods mechanical properties, determined by three point bending tests. The highest bending stress is also reached in the 3 wt% Ag samples.