Role of Silver on Superconducting Properties of BPSCCO (2223) System

The role of silver for the superconducting properties of the BiPbSrCaCuO (2223) system have been investigated systematically. Samples with various concentrations of Ag were prepared by the matrix method. D.C. resistance results showed that T_c(0) varied between 100–109 K for various compositions of Ag. J_c measured at LNT from I–V data shows an increase with silver addition. J_c decreased from 90 Amp/cm² at zero field to 16 Amp/cm² at 100 Oe. The T_c(0) obtained form the susceptibility data agreed with those obtained from resistance measurements. X‐ray diffraction results showed that the dominant phase in BPSCCO is the high‐temperature (2223) phase and the same is improved in silver added BPSCCO samples. The scanning electron micrographs indicated that silver is precipated along the grain boundaries, separating the superconducting grains. These results have showed that silver addition does not destroy the superconductivity and at the same time enhances the critical current density.