Effect of Sb Addition on the Formation of High-Tc Phase in the Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O Ceramics

Abstract
We prepared Bi1.6-x Pb0.4Sb x Sr2Ca2Cu3O y ceramics (x=0.1 and 0.2) by the melt-quenching method and examined the effect of Sb addition on the superconducting properties. It was found that the formation of the high-T c phase was remarkably enhanced by the addition of a very small amount (x=0.1) of the Sb element. The critical temperature T c(zero) of the sample (x=0.1) annealed at 850°C or 860°C for 100h was 102 K.