Effect of pb doping on the electrical properties of textured Bi-2212 superconductors

Bi2-xPbxSr2CaCu2Oy textured materials (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) have been successfully prepared by the laser floating zone technique. Microstructure and electrical properties (JC and TC) have been clearly affected by Pb addition. From the E-I curves, slope of the transition between the superconducting and the normal state (n) at 77K reaches a maximum of about 16 for the 0.4 Pb doped samples. This value is much higher than the typical ones for the Bi-2212 materials. Moreover, when the electrical properties of the 0.4 Pb doped samples are measured at lower temperatures (between 65 and 77K), n values increase when the temperature is decreased. A maximum n value of 32 has been reached at 65K which makes this material very attractive for its use as resistive fault current limiters. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.