Synthesis, characterization and melt processing of Y1−x(Yb0.9Nd0.1)xBa2Cu3Oz superconductors

Effects of a combined substitute of Yb and Nd on Y site on the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3Oy have been studied. We synthesized Y1−x(Yb0.9Nd0.1)xBa2Cu3Oz compound with x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0. Here, the ratio of Yb-Nd was fixed to be 9:1 for obtaining 123 phase without secondary phases. The melt processing thermal profiles for Y1−x(Yb0.9Nd0.1)xBa2Cu3Oz with x = 0.2 and 0.4 and the addition of 40 mol% {Y1−x(Yb0.9Nd0.1)x}2BaCuO5 and 0.5 wt% Pt in air were determined on the basis of the thermal analysis results. All samples showed a low grain growth rate, particularly for high x values, which may be partially ascribed to un-optimized thermal schedules. Although almost all the samples exhibited low Jc values, the sample with x = 0.2 exhibited Tc of 88.8 K and a relatively high Jc value of 16,000 A/cm2 at 77 K for H//c-axis.