Specification of Some Superconductivity Parameters by Adding Lutetium to the YBCO (358) Ceramic Superconductor

Abstract

Superconducting specimens of Y3-xLuxBa5Cu8O18+δ (where x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5) ceramic were fabricated via the solid-state route (SSR). The structural and superconducting features of the specimens were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Measurements and calculations were carried out for electrical resistance (R-T) and DC magnetization (M-H). The onset critical transition temperature (Tconset) of the specimens dropped to lower temperatures with the addition of lutetium (Lu). The estimated critical current density (Jc) values of the specimens, depending on the magnetic field, were extracted from the DC magnetization data. The changes in average grain size and bulk critical current density were examined. Improvement was observed in the bulk critical current density with increasing levels of Lu/Y substitution.