Thermal treatment of a Y-123 precursor prepared using the hydroxide co-precipitation method

Abstract

A Y-123 precursor has been obtained using the hydroxide co-precipitation method. The influences of the calcination time and temperature (with and without sintering and annealing) on the formation of the superconducting phase, YBa2Cu3O7−δ, are examined using XRD and Tc measurements. A comparison between the co-precipitated hydroxide precursor and the conventional dry precursor, obtained by mixing oxides and carbonates, is made. It shows that thermal treatment of the hydroxide precursor at 750°C already gives a superconductor, while the oxide–carbonate precursor is only superconducting after thermal treatment at 850°C.