Preparation of the 110 K single phase superconductor Bi1.6Pb0.4Ca2Sr2Cu3Ox using a precursor matrix reaction method

Abstract
Nearly single phase sintered samples of the lead-doped high-Tc oxide superconductor of nominal composition Bi1.6Pb0.4Ca2Sr2Cu3Ox have been prepared using a precursor matrix reaction method. The experimental results indicate that in samples annealed under optimum conditions (200 h at 855 °C) the volume fraction of impurity phases is only about 3%. If the optimum annealing time is exceeded, the high-Tc phase begins to decompose into the low-Tc phase and nonsuperconducting phases. It is found that the precursor reaction matrix method minimizes loss of lead during processing.