Comparative Investigation of Low and High Pelletize Pressure for (Ag)X/Cutl-1223 Nanoparticles-Superconductor Composites

This article experimentally investigates the impact of silver (Ag) nano-particles inclusion and high pelletized pressure on the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca2Cu3O10-δ (noted CuTl-1223) bulk system. A two-step solid-state reaction route was opted to synthesize the nano-(Ag)x/CuTl-1223 composites with added amount of Ag NPs ranging from 0 to 2.0 wt. % of the total mass. The composites were prepared both at low and high pelletized pressure of 0.202 GPa. All prepared samples were characterized using valuable techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR, and DC resistivity measurement at ambient as well as high pelletized pressure, respectively. The structural investigation via the XRD technique indicated that Ag NPs did not affect the CuTl-1223 tetragonal structure, confirmed that NPs were settled across the grain boundaries. SEM examination revealed a fine distribution of nano-sized silver (Ag) NPs among the CuTl-1223 grains, as well as improved weak-links and density of void/pores. The position of distinct vibrational oxygen modes in FTIR spectra showed no substantial alteration, indicating that the structure nature of the host CuTl-1223 phase was preserved. The resistivity verses temperature measurement were studied using the four-point probe technique, and the activation energy were determined using Arrhenius law. The results of (R-T) measurements showed that pelletization pressure up to 0.202 GPa have an impact on the critical temperature (Tc) of (Ag)x/CuTl-1223 composites. The superconducting critical temperature Tc(0) was enhanced from 99 K to 107 K at high-pressure of pelletization (0.202 GPa) as compared to ambient pressure (100 MPa), with x = 0 ~ 2.0 wt. % NPs addition to the host CuTl-1223 phase.