Influence of Na, Mg and Yb Substitution for Ca in Bi(Pb)-2223 Superconductor

The effect of Ca substitution by Na, Mg and Yb on the structural and transport properties of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2-xMxCu3Oy (M = Na, Mg and Yb) (x = 0.0 and 0.2) superconducting samples have been investigated. The samples were prepared by the coprecipitation (COP) method. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), electrical resistivity measurement and critical current density. The critical current density (Jc) and transition temperature (Tc zero) of Na, Mg and Yb substituted with x = 0.2 were found to be lower than the pure sample. Tc zero varies between 100 K and 63 K. Mg concentration was found to give the highest Tc zero of 93 K. Tc zero gradually decreased from Mg, Yb to Na corresponding to a small change in the carrier concentration. Jc decreased with Mg, Yb and Na substitution, and it was measured to be 7.4611 A/cm2, 0.0667 A/cm2, 1.4579 A/cm2 and 1.2479 A/cm2 for pure, Na, Mg and Yb substitution, respectively at 60 K. XRD analysis showed that the decrease of the volume fraction for the 2223 phase and increase of the volume fraction for the 2212 phase with substitution of Na, Mg and Yb. The proportion of Bi-2223/Bi-2212 (%) was estimated from 78.13/21.87 for pure to 51.71/48.29 for Na substitution.