The Effect of Zn Substitution of Ca in BiPbSrCaCuO Superconductors Sintered at 830 degrees C

The effect of partial substitution of Ca by Zn in Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2−x Zn x Cu3O y at x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 levels on the electrical and structural properties was investigated in this work. The characterization of the ceramics prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method were done by resistance–temperature measurements, XRD, SEM and density analysis. Low levels of Zn substitution of Ca caused significant changes in the properties of the ceramics. The low-T c superconducting properties were enhanced and the fraction of the low-T c (2212) phase were found to increase at x=0.15 level of Zn substitution at 830 °C sintering temperature. Zero resistance was observed only in sample D with x=0.15 and the T c was determined as 92 K. The SEM micrographs and the density analysis have shown that this was the densest packed ceramic.