Enhancing grains connectivity and superconductivity in (Cu)x/CuTl-1223 nano-particles superconductor composites under high pelletize pressure

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 130; no. 8
• Main Authors: Muhammad, Yaseen, Rahim, Muhammad, Hussain, Nazir, Iqbal, Zafar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis; Cold pressing; Condensed Matter Physics; Copper; Crystal structure; Current carriers; Machines; Manufacturing; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Particulate composites; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Porosity; Processes; Superconductivity; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Cu; Copper nano-particles (Cu NPs); High-pressure pelletization; CuTl-1223 superconducting phase; CuTl-1223 nanocomposites; Cold Isostatic Press (CIP); Superconducting properties
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-024-07722-1

This study investigates the enhancement of superconducting properties in Cu
0.5
Tl
0.5
Ba
2
Ca
2
Cu
3
O
10-δ
superconductor via inclusion of Cu nano-particles (Cu NPs) and high-pressure pelletization. The (Cu)
x
/CuTl-1223 nano-particles superconductor composites were synthesized by solid-state reaction technique and pelletized using a cold isostatic press (CIP). X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the retention of tetragonal crystal structure and dominant CuTl-1223 phases in the nanocomposites. SEM images showed a decrease in the density of void/pores as well as an improvement in weak-link connections. FTIR spectra indicated no significant changes in the vibrational oxygen modes, confirming that the crystal structure remained intact. Resistivity (
ρ
) measurements unveiled a remarkable boost in the critical temperature
T
c
(
0
)
to 110 K and activation energy (
U
o
) to 0.028 eV at the optimal 1.5 wt.% of copper (Cu) nano-particle concentrations, and decreasing beyond these concentrations at 0.4 GPa. This enhancement of superconducting parameters is attributed to improved weak-link connectivity, reduced porosity, and increased superconducting volume fraction, leading to higher carrier charge concentrations in the (Cu)
x
/CuTl-1223 nanocomposites.