Superconducting and microstructure properties of Eu2O3 nanoparticles substitution in low density Bi(Pb)-2223 superconductor

• Published in: Journal of Alloys and Compounds
• Main Author: Suhaimi N.E.; Hashim A.; Razali W.A.W.; Ibrahim N.; Saipuddin S.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2025
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85214310306&doi=10.1016%2fj.jallcom.2025.178448&partnerID=40&md5=df25cbec3977a74405aa807c430cc345

The effects of Eu2O3 nanoparticles substitution on superconducting and structural properties of low density Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2(Ca2-xEux)Cu3Oy cuprates superconductors where x = 0.00, 0.0025, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.07 have been investigated. All samples used in this research have been prepared by solid state reaction technique. A low-density sample was formed by including crystalline sucrose during the pelletization process and subsequently subjected to combustion at a temperature of 400 °C for a duration of two hours. Several characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), four-point probe method and AC Susceptibility (ACS) were performed on all prepared samples. Phase examination by X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the crystallographic structure has shifted slightly from tetragonal to orthorhombic. As the concentration of Eu nanoparticles increased, the quantity of 2223 phase exhibited a consistent decline, suggesting that the incorporation of Eu nanoparticles promotes the formation of 2212 phases. The crystallite size were estimated through Williamson-Hall and Scherer equations. The FESEM images reveal that an increase in Eu concentration leads to a reduction in the size of plate-like grains, resulting in a more random and dispersed arrangement without any specific alignment. Sample with x = 0.0025 Eu2O3 nanoparticles yields the highest Jc value compared to Eu-free sample. The present results show that the optimal performance sample was found at sample with x = 0.0025. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.