Comparative investigation of low and high pelletize pressure for (Ag)x/CuTl-1223 nanoparticles-superconductor composites

Abstract This article experimentally investigates the impact of silver (Ag) nano-particles inclusion and high pelletized pressure on the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of Cu 0.5 Tl 0.5 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10− δ (noted CuTl-1223) bulk system. The nano-(Ag) x /CuTl-1223 composites were synthesized using a two-step solid-state reaction process with added amount of Ag nano-particles ranging from 0 to 2.0 wt% of the total mass. These nano-composites were produced at both low and high pelletize pressure of 0.202 GPa. All prepared samples were characterized using valuable techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and dc-resistivity measurement at low as well as high pelletized pressure, respectively. The structural investigation via the XRD technique indicated that Ag NPs did not affect the CuTl-1223 tetragonal structure, confirmed that Ag nano-particles were settled across the grain boundaries. SEM examination revealed a fine distribution of nano-sized silver (Ag) NPs among the CuTl-1223 grains, as well as improved weak-links and density of void/pores. The position of distinct vibrational oxygen modes in FTIR spectra showed no substantial alteration, indicating that the structural nature of the host CuTl-1223 phase was preserved. The electrical properties were studied using the four-point probe technique, and the activation energy were determined using Arrhenius law. The results of ρ − T measurements showed that pelletization pressure of 0.202 GPa have an impact on the critical temperature T c of (Ag) x /CuTl-1223 composites. The superconducting critical temperature T c 0 was enhanced from 99 K to 107 K at high-pressure of pelletization (0.202 GPa) as compared to low pressure, with x = 0 ∼ 2.0 wt % nano-particles addition to the host CuTl-1223 phase.