Improvement of polycrystalline Y–Ba–Cu–O by the addition of silver

Abstract
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning Auger, and optical microscopy studies of polycrystalline superconducting pellets of Y–Ba–Cu–O/Ag are presented. Silver-laced samples have a lower porosity and a drastically reduced hydrocarbon contamination. Results indicate no detectable substitution of A g into the Y–Ba–Cu–O but a collection of metallic silver in voids and possibly along grain boundaries Intergranular silver could mitigate adverse grain boundary effects in polycrystalline Y–Ba–Cu–O.