An investigation was made of the effect of gold diffusion, upon the crystal

structure and superconducting properties of Bi-2223 superconducting samples,

using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, critical transition

temperature, critical current density and room-temperature resistivity

measurements. Doping of Bi-2223 was carried out by means of gold diffusion from

an evaporated gold film on pellets during sintering. The X-ray diffraction patterns

and scanning electron micrographs were used to obtain information on the Bi-2223

phase ratio, lattice parameters and grain size, respectively. The Au-doping of the

samples increased the critical transition temperature and the critical current density

from 100 to 104K and from 40 to 125A/cm2, in comparison with undoped samples.

Gold diffusion in Bi1.8Pb0.35Sr1.9Ca2.1Cu3Oy was studied at 500 to 830C using the

technique of successive removal of thin layers and measurement of the sample's

conductivity at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the Au diffusion

at 500 to 830C was described by:

D = 5 x 10−4exp[−1.09(eV)/kT]

The Effect of Au Diffusion on Some Physical Properties of

Bi1.8Pb0.35Sr1.9Ca2.1Cu3Oy Superconductors. C.Terzioglu, O.Ozturk, I.Belenli:

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2009, 471[1-2], 142-6