To understand the effect of BaCeO 3 on a Y 2BaCuO 5 (Y211) distribution, Y 1.5Ba 2Cu 3O x (Y1.5) superconductors with/without 1 wt.% BaCeO 3 additions were prepared by a top-seeded melt-textured growth (TSMG) process. Two different BaCeO 3 powders (as-synthesized (coarse powder) and an attrition-milled (fine powder)) were used and the size effect was compared with that obtained from a Y1.5 sample with no addition. A refinement of the Y211 particles was achieved for both the as-synthesized and attrition-milled BaCeO 3 additions. The distribution of the Y211 particles was most uniform in the Y1.5 sample prepared with the attrition-milled BaCeO 3 powder due to the reduced size of the Y211-free regions by the fine size BaCeO 3 addition. The highest J c was achieved in the Y1.5 sample prepared with the attrition-milled BaCeO 3 powder. The J c result agreed well with the microstructure variations by the addition of BaCeO 3 powders.