Time and temperature-based study for the production of high T_C phase by sol-gel technique in Pb-bscco system

Abstract

The high T_C superconducting phase Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃Ox (2223) in the Pb-BSCCO system has been produced by EDTA-gel processing using nitrate solutions. The precursor has heated in two stages, at 300 and 800°C each for 2 h, to avoid the burning of the important species involved in the final product. The effects of time (6 to 48 h) and temperature (845 and 855°C) on the formation of the 2223 phase have been studied by sintering the samples in air. Thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) have been employed to investigate the powder produced at different stages of decomposition, oxidation and formation of sintered materials from the powders. The volume-fraction of the 2223 phase at 845°C increases with time, the maximum value of the 2223 phase was obtained at 120 h. It has been observed that the formation of the high T_C phase is remarkably enhanced at the temperature of the endothermic peak of the DTA curve. The best result has been obtained in the sample sintered for 24 h at the temperature 855°C (endothermic peak). This also indicated that at 855°C, the large volume-fraction of 2223 phase with T_C 113 K grew in short time and as the sintering time increased, it decomposed into the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂Ox (2212) phase and other phases.