Effect of Mo-substitution on superconductivity, flux pinning and critical currents of La1.5Nd0.5Ca1Ba2Cu5Oz

Mo-substituted triple perovskite superconducting samples with the stoichiometric composition La1.5Nd0.5Ca1Ba2-(Cu1-xMox)5Oz, [LNCBCuMO] with x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10, have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization and oxygen content measurements. The observed reduction in Tc with increasing Mo content (x) in LNCBCuMO, can be attributed to the decrease in hole concentration. Magnetization measurements as a function of temperature and field (H), exhibit an M-H hysteresis loop, which indicates moderate flux pinning, which can be attributed to the pinning centers created by Mo substitution at Cu sites. The critical current density, Jc, deduced from the M-H data satisfies the flux creep model.