Optimal formation and enhanced superconductivity of Tl-1212 phase (Tl0.6Pb0.4)(Ba,Sr)CaCu2O7

Abstract

The effect of heating temperature on the formation of Tl-1212 phase with nominal starting composition (Tl0.6Pb0.4)(Ba,Sr)CaCu2O7 (Tl-1212) is reported. The Ba-bearing Tl-1212 phase is normally prepared at around 900 °C while with Sr-bearing sample is prepared at a much higher temperature of around 1000 °C. This work was conducted to determine the optimal temperature to synthesis the Tl-1212 phase when the sample contains Ba and Sr with 1:1 ratio. (Tl0.6Pb0.4)(Ba,Sr)CaCu2O7 samples were prepared using the solid-state reaction method via the precursor route. In the final preparation stage, the samples were heated at 850, 870, 900, 920, 950, 970 and 1000 °C in oxygen flow. X-Ray diffraction patterns showed that most samples consisted of a mixed (Tl0.6Pb0.4)(Ba,Sr)Ca2Cu3O9 (Tl-1223) and Tl-1212 phase except for the sample heated at 970 °C which showed a single Tl-1212 phase and the sample heated at 850 °C which showed the Tl-1223 phase. The transition temperature measured by four-probe method showed that the sample heated at 970 °C exhibited the highest onset temperature of 118 K and zero-resistance temperature of 100 K. This transition temperature is higher than the usually reported value for the Tl-1212 phase. AC susceptibility measurements also showed the 970 °C heated sample with the highest transition temperature Tcχ′ = 109 K. The interplay of ionic radius (Ba2+ and Sr2+) decreases of the unit cell volume and changes in the internal lattice strain enhanced the transition temperature and the formation of the Tl-1212 phase.