Investigate Effect of Ag2O Adding on Y134 Superconductor
Napaporn Sripawatakul1,a* , Rattanasuda Supadanaison2,b,
Theerathawan Panklang2,c, Chalit Wanichayanan2,d, Adullawich Kaewkao1,e,
Tunyanop Nilkamjon1,f Piyamas Chainok5,i, Somporn Tiyasri3,j,
Wirat Wongphakdee3,g, Thitipong Kruaehong4,h,
Pongkaew Udomsamuthirun1,j
1Prasarnmit Physics Research Unit, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
2Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University 1061 Soi Itsaraphap 15, Hiranruchi, Thon Buri, Bangkok 10600, Thailand.
3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University,Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
4Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University,Surat Thani 84100, Thailand.
5Department of General Education, Faculty of Science and Technology,Pathumwan Institute of Technology, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
Keywords: Y134 superconductor, Solid state reaction, Critical temperature
Abstract. In this paper, we synthesized Y134 superconductor doped Ag2O by solid state reactionand investigated the effect of Ag2O addition on the critical temperature of Y134 superconductor and SEM micrographs shown Y134 doped Ag2O has rather smooth and small pores feature. The maximum critical temperature found at an optimal doping, 0.1 Ag, with Tc onset =97 K.
Introduction
Since the discovery of high temperature superconductors of Bednorz and Muller [1] in 1986 and the discovery of Y123 (YBa2Cu3O7-x) by Chu and coworkers [2] in 1987, increasing critical temperature and current of superconductors has been the aim of intensive research. The critical temperature above liquid nitrogen boiling point of these materials means that YBaCuO compounds can exhibit a high critical temperature enough for application in various areas. The critical temperature (Tc) of this high temperature superconductor sensitively depends on both the hole concentration in the CuO2 planes and the relative concentration of the oxygen within the planes [3]. After the discovery of Y123 (YBa2Cu3O7-x), various elements are added in YBaCuO system for increasing the critical temperature (Tc) and critical current density (Jc) [4-6]. Numerous studied have shown that Ag-doping of Y123 superconductor caused in improved superconducting properties [7-11]. As Ag fills the intergranular spaces, it improves the electrical properties of samples, enhancing the critical current density without changing the critical temperature [12]. In the studies of Ag admixing has been reported to result in enhancement of the critical current density in cuprate superconductors [13-15]. Shao et al. [16] prepared the YBa2Cu3O7-x by using Y2O3, BaCO3, CuO in the appropriate amounts. Then the Ag, Ag2O, AgNO3 were added into Y123 power separately. The sintering temperature of 830 – 930 °C were used to form the bulk samples. They found that the Ag-doping does not cause any district microstructure change of Y123 superconductor. Ag dopants located at the pores contributes to strengthening and improving the critical current density of material. Zheng et al. [17] study the Y124 superconductor and the effectof Ag2O addition prepared by solid-state reaction method. The Y2O3, CaCO3, Ba(NO3)2, CuI and Ag2O were mixed and heated at 815 °C. The obtained samples had a remarkable increase in critical current density by optimum silver addition. Reduction of porosity in the Y124 superconductor was found to be the origin of critical current density enhancement. Rani, Jha and Awana [18] reported the effect of Ag addition on the superconducting performance of Y123 superconductor prepared by solid-state reaction. The powder of Y2O3, BaCO3, CuO and Ag2O was used as the starting materials. The calcination at 870 °C, 890 °C, and 910 °C with sintering temperature at 920 °C were done. Ag-added Y123 superconductor showed the optimum intergranular coupling that the grain size is found to increase with Ag doping until the maximum value then decrease. Azambuja et al. [19] prepared the Y123 dope Ag by conventional solid-state reaction with Y2O3, BaCO3, CuO, Ag2O and metallic Ag as beginning materials. They were calcinated in air at 870 °C, 900 °C, 920 °C and the sintered temperature at 920 °C. The sample were heated in flowing oxygen at 420 °C. Their results revealed that Ag doping does not modify expressively the value of critical temperature. Ag is incorporated in the intergrain regions providing a better grain coupling. Another way to higher performance parameters of High-Tc superconductor are to find the new formula that can achieve our aim. The new formula of this group are Y5-6-11, Y7-9-16, Y358, Y5-8-13, Y7-11-18, Y156, Y3-8-11, and Y13-20-23, where the numbers indicate Y, Ba, and Cu atoms respectively [20, 21]. Chainok et.al [22] studied the YBaCuO superconductors having one Yttrium atom that Y123 (YBa2Cu3O7-y), Y134 (YBa3Cu4O9-y), Y145 (YBa4Cu5O 11-y) and Y156 (YBa5Cu6O13-y). The sintering temperature at 950 °C and 980 °C were used for synthesized their samples. The critical temperature in range 88 – 94 °C were found.
In this paper, we interested in Y134 superconductor that proposed by Chainok et.al [22] because this formula having the amount of element nearby the Y123. We synthesized Y134 superconductor doped Ag2O by solid state reaction and investigated the effect of Ag2O addition on the critical temperature.
Experimental Details
Series samples of YBa3Cu4AgxO9-δ (where x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15), the precursor powders were mixed according to chemical formula that pure sample Y: Ba: Cu as 1:3:4 and for doping samples Y: Ba: Cu: Ag as 1:3:4:0.05, 1:3:4:0.10, 1:3:4:0.15. Samples were synthesized by standard solid state reaction method. The appropriate ratio of the constituent oxides and carbonate i.e. Y2O3, CuO, Ag2O and BaCO3 were mixed and ground by mortar and pestle. After regrinding and mixing, the powder was kept in an alumina crucible and heated at 950 0C for the calcination process. After calcinations the material was ground to enhance chemical homogeneity. The homogeneous powder was pressed to form of pellets before sintering. These pellets sintered in air at 950 °C and the final annealing at 500 0C was done. The surface morphology of as synthesized materials has been carried out by a Joel scanning electron microscope (JSM-5600). The electrical resistivity have been measured by standard four point probe method. Results and Discussions After preparation process was done, we took all samples for SEM, resistance, and. In Fig. 1, the SEM images of Y134 superconductor were shown. We found that the large pores of Y134 without Ag2O doping were eliminated from the composites by the addition of Ag2O. Y134 doped Ag2O has rather smooth and small pores feature,
Fig. 1 Shown results from SEM observation on given samples.
The resistance measurement by four-point-probe technique of sample obtained were shown in
Fig. 2. The critical temperature onset and offset were read out from these data that were shown in
Table 1
Fig. 2 Shown the resistivity of pure Y134 and Y134 with Ag2O doping.
Table 1 The critical temperature of Y134 and Y134 doped Ag superconductor.
| sample | Tcoffset (K) | Tconset (K) | ΔTc |
| Y134 | 90 | 95 | 5 |
| Y134 +0.05Ag | 88 | 92 | 4 |
| Y134 +0.10Ag | 95 | 97 | 2 |
| Y134 +0.15Ag | 90 | 92 | 2 |
According to Table 1. We found that the highest critical temperature was in Y134+0.1 Ag sample with Tc onset at 97 K the lowest was found in Y134+0.15Ag and Y134+0.05Ag at 92 K. This result was present the maximum critical temperature found at an optimal doping, 0.1 Ag, with Tc onset =97 K. This result was consistent with the research of Li et al [12] and Plesch et al [15] that studied Ag doped superconductor, found that fills the intergranular space and improves the electrical properties of samples. So not only, adding Ag2O contributes to strengthening this Ag2O doping in appropriate volume will higher critical temperature.
Conclusions
We have prepared YBa3Cu4AgxO9-δ (Y134+xAg) where x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 by solid state reaction and investigated the effect of Ag2O addition on the critical temperature 950 oC. The critical temperature onset of all sample were equal 95K, 92K, 97K, and 92K with x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15,respectively. The maximum critical temperature found at an optimal doping, 0.1 Ag, with Tc onset =97 K. SEM images of Y134 superconductor shown that the pores of Y134 without Ag2O doping were fill up by admix Ag2O in Y134. Additional, Ag2O doping in appropriate volume will higher critical temperature.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to express my sincere thank the Promotion of Science and Mathematics Talented Teacher (PSMT), the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), Faculty of science Srinakharinwirot University.
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