Effect of CuO addition in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramics

The effect of adding CuO matrix to Bi1·6Pb0·4Sr2Ca2Cu3Oδ and Y1Ba2Cu3Oδ superconductors was investigated through resistivity, XRD, SEM, thermoelectric power (TEP), and ac magnetization studies. Samples with as low as 20% (by weight) of the superconducting phase showed superconducting transition in resistivity-temperature (R-T), with the superconducting zero around 77 K in thermoelectric power, critical current (Jc) values were evaluated by applying Bean’s critical state model. CuO could be added to the superconducting material without any significant deterioration in the quality of the samples, up to a concentration of as low as 40% (by weight) of the superconducting material.