Microstructural and electrical transport properties of uniaxially pressed Bi1.65Pb0.35Sr2Ca2.5Cu3.5O10+δ ceramic superconductors

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 6188 - 6199
• Main Authors: Cruz-García, A., Fernández-Gamboa, J. R., Altshuler, E., Jardim, R. F., Vazquez-Robaina, O., Muné, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 2018
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-018-8594-2

We have studied the effect of the pelletization pressure on microstructural and electrical transport properties of superconducting ceramics with starting composition given by the formula Bi 1.65 Pb 0.35 Sr 2 Ca 2.5 Cu 3.5 O 10 + δ . The experimental data of electrical measurements was processed in order to obtain the weak-link resistivity, the orientation probability of the grains’ a -axes along a certain preferential direction, the slope of the linear part in the temperature dependence of the ab-planes resistivity, and the intrinsic effective anisotropy of the grains, of each sample. In contrast with the behaviour of Bi 1.65 Pb 0.35 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10 + δ ceramics, the Ca, Cu enriched samples exhibit a reduction of their effective anisotropy at sample level and weak links resistivity with increasing compacting pressures. In addition, a compacting pressure of around 488 MPa may affect considerably the electrical and structural parameters of the material. The results suggest that a combined effect of the pelletization pressure and the doping with Ca and Cu can be used to improve the electrical transport properties of these materials for technological applications.