The influence of Sm2O3 nanoparticles adding on some superconducting properties of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ ceramics

Abstract

High-Temperature Superconductors Bi${}_{1.6}$Pb${}_{0.4}$Sr${}_2$Ca${}_2$Cu${}_3$O${}_{10+\delta }$ samples doped with Sm${}_2$O${}_3$ nanoparticles in different quantities (0.00, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06), were synthesised. Solid state feedback technique was used to prepare the samples and then characterised. The morphology and structure of the specimens were deployed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination. The spectroscopy of the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) experiment was utilised to obtain the elemental composition of the samples. Resistivity versus temperature measurement in DC mode was employed to estimate the critical transition temperature of each sample. XRD with the Rietveld refinement process revealed that Bi2223 and Bi2212 stages exist mutually in specimens with orthorhombic crystal systems. The lowest percentage of volume fraction associated with the Bi2223 phase belonged to the sample with $x=0.06$ nanoparticle samarium doped. It was detected that with rising samarium content the volume division of the Bi2223 phase decreases but the Bi2212 stage increases compared with the pristine specimen. SEM showed that the shrinkage of grain size occurs when the amount of nano-sized Sm was added to $x=0.02$ sample with lower inter-coupling among superconducting granules. This effect might be verified by SEM and TEM images. EDX exhibited some peaks related to Sm and other elements of the Bi2223 structure. These patterns confirm that all elements associated with the compounds were introduced into the Bi2223 matrix. The critical temperatures such as $T_{conset}$, $T_c^{Peak}$ and $T_{czero}$ decreased for Sm doped samples compared with the pure sample. Adding Sm${}_2$O${}_3$ nanoparticles causes rising calculated density and hole carrier concentration. These outcomes can be interpreted as the allocation of additional positive charges to the CuO2 planes. It is worth mentioning that the superb properties such as high-Tc, high Jc, strong flux pinning, and good thermal stability, for Bi2223 and high breakdown electric field, high dielectric constant, and large bandgap for Sm2O3 are the issues to motivate the author to dope Bi2223 with Sm2O3 NPs. In brief, the electrical, mechanical and structural properties of Sm2O3 NPs doped Bi2223 play the main role in the applications, which drive the investigations to emphasise the synthesis of superconducting samples.