Synthesis and characterization of Ln-123 superconductors

Abstract

A sol–gel method was applied to prepare precursors for NdBa2Cu3O7-x (Nd-123) and SmBa2Cu3O7-x (Sm-123) superconducting compounds. The sintered products were examined by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The powders sintered at 950 and 1000 °C showed the formation of monophasic Nd-123 and Sm-123 superconductors. The formation of Nd-123 and Sm-123 phases from the sol-gel derived precursors at higher temperatures (1050 and 1100 °C), however, did not proceed due to the melting process. The correlation between the TC for different lanthanides (Ln – Ho, Nd and Sm) in the Ln-123 compound and orthorhombicity and oxygen stoichiometry were also estimated.

Keywords

• 123 superconductors
• substitution effects
• lanthanides
• sol–gel synthesis