Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intergranular Coupling, Critical Current Density, and Phase Formation Enhancement of Polycrystalline Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10−y Superconductors by α-Al2O3 Nanoparticle Addition

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, the effect of alumina (α-Al2O3) nanoparticle addition on the phase formation and superconducting properties of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10−y ((Bi,Pb)-2223) system has been investigated. Six samples with different alumina nanoparticle contents (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 wt % of the sample’s total mass) were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods have been used to study phase formation and microstructure of the prepared samples, respectively. Also, electrical resistivity and critical current density of the prepared samples were measured by four-probe technique. AC susceptibility of the samples has been measured by an LCR meter. XRD results showed that addition of small amounts of the alumina nanoparticles improves (Bi,Pb)-2223 phase formation significantly. Temperature dependency of AC susceptibility measurements revealed that addition of α-Al2O3 nanoparticles improves the intergranular coupling. The I-V measurements show that critical current density of samples increased from about 36 A/cm 2 for the alumina nanoparticle-free sample to about 107 A/cm 2 for the sample with 0.5 wt % α-Al2O3 nanoparticles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kameli, P., Salamati, H., Eslami, M.: The effect of sintering temperature on the intergranular properties of Bi2223 superconductors. Solid State Commun. 137(1–2), 30–35 (2006). doi:10.1016/j.ssc.2005.10.026

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ben Azzouz, F., M’chirgui, A., Yangui, B., Boulesteix, C., Ben Salem, M.: Synthesis, microstructural evolution and the role of substantial addition of PbO during the final processing of (Bi, Pb)-2223 superconductors. Phys. C: Supercond. 356(1–2), 83–96 (2001). doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(01)00124-1

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gul, I.H., Amin, F., Abbasi, A.Z., Anis-ur-Rehman, M., Maqsood, A.: Effect of Ag2 CO 3 addition on the morphology and physical properties of Bi-based (2223) high-Tc superconductors. Phys. C: Supercond. 449(2), 139–147 (2006). doi:10.1016/j.physc.2006.08.004

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hazen, R.M., Prewitt, C.T., Angel, R.J., Ross, N.L., Finger, L.W., Hadidiacos, C.G., Veblen, D.R., Heaney, P.J., Hor, P.H., Meng, R.L., Sun, Y.Y., Wang, Y.Q., Xue, Y.Y., Huang, Z.J., Gao, L., Bechtold, J., Chu, C.W.: Superconductivity in the high Tc Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O system: phase identification. Phys. Rev. Lett. 60(12), 1174–1177 (1988). doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.60.1174

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Takano, M., Takada, J., Oda, K., Kitaguchi, H., Miura, Y., Ikeda, Y., Tomii, Y., Mazaki, H.: High-Tc phase promoted and stabilized in the Bi, Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system. Jpn. J. Appl Phys. 27(6A), L1041 (1988). doi:10.1143/JJAP.27.L1041

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Crossley, A.L., Li, Y.H., Caplin, A.D., MacManus-Driscoll, J.L.: The effect of low oxygen partial pressure and high Pb-doping on Bi-2212 phase formation and flux pinning. Phys. C: Supercond. 314(1–2), 12–18 (1999). doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(99)00036-2

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kameli, P., Salamati, H., Abdolhosseini, I.: AC susceptibility study of Bi1.66Pb0.34Sr2Ca2−xMgxCu3Oy (x = 0, 0.2 and 0.4) superconductor systems. J. Alloys Compd. 458(1–2), 61–65 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2007.04.043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Guilmeau, E., Andrzejewski, B., Noudem, J.G.: The effect of MgO addition on the formation and the superconducting properties of the Bi2223 phase. Phys. C: Supercond. 387(3–4), 382–390 (2003). doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(02)02360-2

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Annabi, M., M’Chirgui, A., Ben Azzouz, F., Zouaoui, M., Ben Salem, M.: Addition of nanometer Al2O3 during the final processing of (Bi, Pb)-2223 superconductors. Phy. C: Supercond. 405(1), 25–33 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.physc.2004.01.012

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Abou-Aly, A.I., Abdel Gawad, M.M.H., Awad, R., G-Eldeen, I.: Improving the physical properties of (Bi, Pb)-2223 phase by SnO2 nano-particles addition. J. Supercond. Nov. Magn. 24(7), 2077–2084 (2011). doi:10.1007/s10948-011-1171-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Guo, Y.C., Tanaka, Y., Kuroda, T., Dou, S.X., Yang, Z.Q.: Addition of nanometer SiC in the silver-sheathed Bi2223 superconducting tapes. Phys. C: Supercond. 311(1–2), 65–74 (1999). doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(98)00625-X

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Wei, W., Schwartz, J., Goretta, K.C., Balachandran, U., Bhargava, A.: Effects of nanosize MgO additions to bulk Bi2.1Sr1.7CaCu2Ox. Phys. C: Supercond. 298(3–4), 279–288 (1998). doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(97)01889-3

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Mellekh, A., Zouaoui, M., Ben Azzouz, F., Annabi, M., Ben Salem, M.: Effect of nanometer Al2O3 addition on structural and transport properties of YBa2Cu3O7−δ . Phys. C: Supercond. 460–462 Part 1(0), 426–427 (2007). doi:10.1016/j.physc.2007.03.108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ghattas, A., Annabi, M., Zouaoui, M., Azzouz, F.B., Salem, M.B.: Flux pinning by Al-based nano particles embedded in polycrystalline (Bi, Pb)-2223 superconductors. Phys. C: Supercond. 468(1), 31–38 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.physc.2007.10.006

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jia, Z.Y., Tang, H., Yang, Z.Q., Xing, Y.T., Wang, Y.Z., Qiao, G.W.: Effects of nano-ZrO2 particles on the superconductivity of Pb-doped BSCCO. Phys. C: Supercond. 337(1–4), 130–132 (2000). doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(00)00072-1

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Zouaoui, M., Ghattas, A., Annabi, M., Azzouz, F.B., Salem, M.B.: Effect of nano-size ZrO2 addition on the flux pinning properties of (Bi, Pb)-2223 superconductor. Supercond. Sci. Technol. 21(12), 125005 (2008). doi:10.1088/0953-2048/21/12/125005

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Boussouf, N., Mosbah, M.F., Amira, A., Varilci, A., Altintas, S.P., Guerioune, M.: Effect of ZrO2 addition on microstructure, transport and magnetic properties of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ system. J. Supercond. Nov. Magn. 26(4), 1105–1109 (2013). doi:10.1007/s10948-012-1977-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kazin, P.E., Jansen, M., Larrea, A, De la Fuente, G.F., Tretyakov, Y.D.: Flux pinning improvement in Bi-2212 silver sheathed tapes with submicron SrZrO3 inclusions. Phys. C: Supercond. 253(3–4), 391–400 (1995). doi:10.1016/0921-4534(95)00504-8

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zelati, A., Amirabadizadeh, A., Kompany, A., Salamati, H., Sonier, J.E.: Critical current density and intergranular coupling study of the dysprosium oxide nanoparticle added Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy superconductor. J. Supercond. Nov. Magn. doi:27(10), 2185–2193 (2014). doi:10.1007/s10948-014-2588-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Zelati, A., Amirabadizadeh, A., Kompany, A., Salamati, H., Sonier, J.: Effect of Eu2O3 nanoparticles addition on structural and superconducting properties of BSCCO. J. Supercond. Nov. Magn. 27(6), 1369–1379 (2014). doi:10.1007/s10948-013-2475-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Özkurt, B.: The influence of WO3 nano-particle addition on the structural and mechanical properties of Bi1.8Sr2Ca1.1Cu2.1Oy ceramics. J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 24(11), 4233–4239 (2013). doi:10.1007/s10854-013-1390-0

  22. Ben Salem, M.K., Hannachi, E., Slimani, Y., Hamrita, A., Zouaoui, M., Bessais, L., Ben Salem, M., Ben Azzouz, F.: SiO2 nanoparticles addition effect on microstructure and pinning properties in YBa2Cu3Oy. Ceram. Int. 40(3), 4953–4962 (2014). doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2013.10.103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mumtaz, M., Naeem, S., Nadeem, K., Naeem, F., Jabbar, A., Zheng, Y.R., Khan, N.A., Imran, M.: Study of nano-sized (ZnFe2O4)y particles/CuTl-1223 superconductor composites. Solid State Sci. 22 (0), 21–26 (2013). doi:10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2013.05.001

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yahya, N.A.A., Abd-Shukor, R.: Effect of nano-sized PbO on the transport critical current density of (Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10)/Ag tapes. Ceram. Int. 40(4), 5197–5200 (2014). doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2013.10.078

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mei, Y., Luo, H.L., Chen, D.X., Nogues, J., Rao, K.V.: ac magnetic susceptibility of YBa2Cu3O7−x . J. Appl. Phys. 64(5), 2533–2536 (1988). doi:10.1063/1.341637

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Müller, K.H., Nikolo, M., Driver, R.: Flux pinning at grain boundaries in Bi-(Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O ceramic superconductors. Phys. Rev. B 43(10), 7976–7979 (1991). doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.43.7976

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Silva, C.C., McHenry, M.E.: Measurement and interpretation of AC susceptibility and loss in high-temperature superconductors. J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 226–230 Part 1(0), 311–313 (2001). doi:10.1016/S0304-8853(00)01360-3

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  28. Nayak, P.K., Ravi, S.: AC susceptibility and intergranular critical current density study in pure and Ag doped (La1−x Y x)2Ba2CaCu5Oz superconductors. Solid State Commun. 138(8), 377–381 (2006). doi:10.1016/j.ssc.2006.03.035

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Salamati, H., Kameli, P.: The effect of Bi-2212 phase on the weak link behavior of Bi-2223 superconductors. Phys. C: Supercond. 403(1–2), 60–66 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.physc.2003.11.009

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Iran

    Ali Aftabi & Morteza Mozaffari

Authors
  1. Ali Aftabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Morteza Mozaffari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Aftabi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aftabi, A., Mozaffari, M. Intergranular Coupling, Critical Current Density, and Phase Formation Enhancement of Polycrystalline Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10−y Superconductors by α-Al2O3 Nanoparticle Addition. J Supercond Nov Magn 28, 2337–2343 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10948-015-3040-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10948-015-3040-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation