Phase Formation and Electrical Transport Properties of Nano-Sized SnO₂ Added (Tl_0.85Cr_0.15)Sr₂CaCu₂O_7-δ Superconductors

Abstract:

In this work, the effect of nano-sized SnO₂ addition on the phase formation and electrical transport properties of (Tl_0.85Cr_0.15)Sr₂CaCu₂O_7-δ (Tl-1212) superconductor was investigated. Thallium-based high temperature superconductor (HTS) with nominal starting composition (Tl_0.85Cr_0.15) Sr₂CaCu₂O_7-δ was prepared using high purity oxide powders via solid state reaction method. Nano-sized SnO₂ with 0.01 – 0.05 wt.% were added into Tl-1212 superconductors. The characteristic of the samples were determined by powder X-ray diffraction method (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX), electrical resistance measurements and transport critical current density measurements. Nano-sized SnO₂ added (Tl_0.85Cr_0.15)Sr₂CaCu₂O_7-δ showed T_c-zero between 93 and 95 K. All of the samples indicated a dominant phase of Tl-1212 with a minor phase of Tl-1201. The highest J_c (at 77 K) was shown by sample with 0.03 wt.% at 3260 mA/cm². SnO₂ has significantly enhanced the transport critical current density of Tl-1212 superconductor by acting as flux pinning centers. However, further addition of nano-sized SnO₂ in Tl-1212 superconductor caused degradation in J_c. The SEM micrographs with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX) showed that SnO₂ were well distributed in all the samples.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 268)
• Pages: 315-319
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.268.315
• Online since: October 2017
• Authors: Wei Kong*, Ing Kong, Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik, Roslan Abd-Shukor
• Keywords: Nanoparticles SnO₂, Tl-1212 Superconductor, Transport Critical Current Density

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