Bio-dielectric based on superconductors yttrium calcium barium copper oxide (YCaBa₂Cu₃O_7−x ) from eggshell as calcium oxide source via sol-gel process

Abstract

Eggshell is a rich source of calcium that is a dielectric material used for doping in a superconductor. Yttrium calcium barium copper oxide (Y x Ca1−x Ba2Cu3O7) was prepared using the sol-gel process and fired at 900 °C or 1,000 °C. The stoichiometric ratio of the raw materials Y2O3:BaCl2:CuO:CaO was 1:2:3:1 based on the molar mass. The obtained YCaBCO had an orthorhombic crystal structure composed of distorted oxygen-deficient perovskite. The orthorhombic structure was unsymmetrical, providing a substantial increase in the physical electromagnetic properties of the superconductor. The YBCO-900-reference analyzed using an impedance analyzer in the range from 500 Hz to (1 × 106) Hz and at room temperature (27 °C) had the following values for capacitance, electrical conductivity, and dielectric constant ± standard error: 8,286.70 ± 28.49 pF, (3.60 ± 0.01) × 107 S/m, and 1,874.794 ± 6.446, respectively. The YCaBCO-900-eggshell (Y x Ca1−x Ba2Cu3O7) analyzed at 500 Hz at room temperature (27 °C) had high values for capacitance, electrical conductivity, and dielectric constant, namely, 8,540.10 ± 2.00 pF, (1.32 ± 0.00) × 108 S/m, and 1,988.540 ± 0.500, respectively. Furthermore, the YCaBCO-900-eggshell had electrical properties (capacitance, conductivity, and dielectric constant values) higher than those of YCaBCO-900-commercial grade measured under the same conditions. The YCaBCO-900-com grade had capacitance of 8,225.75 ± 0.73 pF, electrical conductivity of (1.40 ± 0.01) × 108 S/m, and dielectric constant of 1,874.59 ± 0.17, respectively. Therefore, eggshell is an alternative dielectric material useful for doping in yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) to form YCaBCO, thus causing an increase in its electrical properties. The obtained superconductor is a candidate that could be applied in many industries.