Impact of adding bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) nanoparticles on the electrical and mechanical properties of Cu0.5Tl0.5Ba2Ca2Cu3O10-δ ceramic

A mechanochemical route was used to prepare bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) with an average grain size of 20 nm. To obtain (BiVO 4 ) x /Cu 0.5 Tl 0.5 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10-δ composites, appropriate amounts of BiVO 4 (x) were added to Cu 0.5 Tl 0.5 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10-δ via a solid-state reaction. The superconducting critical temperature ( T c ) was dropped from 119.5 to 103.5 K with x. The different conduction mechanisms were studied using the Aslamazov–Larkin and Lawrence–Doniach models. Four different fluctuation zones were observed. As the BiVO 4 content rose the coherence length was increased from 19.69 to 39.30 Å. Superconducting parameters such as thermodynamic critical field B c (0), lower critical magnetic field B c1 (0), upper critical magnetic field B c2 (0), and critical current density J c (0) were decreased with x. Furthermore, the mechanical strength was studied through Vickers microindentation test and variety of mechanical parameters, including elastic modulus (E), yield strength (Y), fracture toughness (K), and brittleness index (B), were determined as a function of BiVO 4 content. Graphical abstract