Influence of simultaneous doping of Sb and Pb on phase formation, superconducting and microstructural characteristics of HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ

We report systematic studies of structural, microstructural and transport properties of (Hg0.80Sb0.2−xPbx)Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ (where x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) compounds. Bulk polycrystalline samples have been prepared by two-step solid-state reaction route at ambient pressure. It has been observed that simultaneous substitution of Sb and Pb at Hg site in oxygen deficient HgOδ layer of HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ cuprate high-Tc superconductor leads to the formation of Hg-1223 as the dominant phase. Microstructural investigations of the as grown samples employing scanning electron microscopy reveal single crystal like large grains embodying spiral like features. Superconducting properties particularly transport current density (Jct) have been found to be sensitive to these microstructural features. As for example (Hg0.80Sb0.05Pb0.15)Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ compound which exhibits single crystal like large grains (∼50 μm) and appears to result through spiral growth mechanism, shows highest Jct (∼1.85 × 103 A/cm2) at 77 K. A possible mechanism for the generation of spiral like features and correlation between microstructural features and superconducting properties have been put forward.