Ion beam deposition of silver on YBCO powder and the superconductivity of Ag-YBCO composites

Abstract

YBa₂Cu₃O_∼7 (YBCO) powder of particle size distribution smaller than 80 μm has been coated with silver by a secondary ion beam deposition technique. Sintered Ag-YBCO composites prepared from this powder consist of homogeneously distributed orthorhombic phase, Ag₂O, silver and a small amount of other phases. The composites are superconducting at about 92 K, with a sharp superconducting transition.