Superconducting Properties of Bi2-xPb0.3WxSr2Ca2Cu3O10+ Compounds

Abstract

The conventional solid-state reaction method was utilized to prepare a series of superconducting samples of the nominal composition Bi2-xPb0.3WxSr2Ca2Cu3O10+d with 0≤x≤0.5 of 50 nm particle size of tungsten sintered at 8500C for 140h in air . The influence of substitution with W NPs at bismuth (Bi) sites was characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dc electrical resistivity. Room temperature X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that there exists two phases, i.e. Bi-(2223) and Bi-(2212), in addition to the impurity phases of (SrCa) 2Cu2O3, Sr2Ca2Cu7Oδ, Ca2PbO4, CaO, and WO. It was found that the crystallographic structure of all samples was orthorhombic. Lattice parameter values and the volume fraction of the (2223)-phase of the prepared samples were also calculated. The superconductivity transition temperature (Tc) for samples subjected to substitution with W NPs was found to be higher than that for the pure sample. The optimal value of W NPs content in (Bi, Pb)-2223 system was found to be at x=0.3.