Influences of Yb substitution on the intergrain connections and flux pinning properties of Bi-2212 superconductors

Polycrystalline bulks Bi2Sr2−xYbxCaCu2.0O8+δ (Bi-2212) with Yb doping content of x = 0, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.05) were fabricated by solid state sintering process. Bi-2212 precursor powders were synthesized by modified co-precipitation process, and Yb2O3 powders were added into the precursor powders during the calcination process as dopants. The influences of Yb substitution on the lattice parameter, microstructure and related superconducting properties were systematically investigated. The amorphous components within the grain boundaries were observed with HRTEM, which contributed to the formation of weak links. Therefore, both the decreasing number of porosity and better crystallized grain boundary structure after Yb doping obviously enhanced the intergrain connections. Meanwhile, doping of Yb ions into Bi-2212 matrix also contributed to the enhancement of point pining, thus lead to the improvement of in-field critical current density. Based on the enhancements of both intergrain connections and flux pinning properties, improvement of critical current density was obtained with the optimal doping content of x = 0.02.