The effects of Ag, Mg, and Pr doping on the superconductivity and structure of BSCCO

The influence of Ag, Mg, and Pr additions and co-additions on microstructure and phase formation of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d (Bi2212) system is investigated. Polycrystalline Bi2212 samples were synthesized in air by solid state reaction method. Phase analysis, micro structural observations and magnetic properties were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and A.C. susceptibility measurements respectively. XRD results reveal two main phases (Bi-2201 and Bi2212). SEM photographs show that the substitution by Ag, Mg or Pr affects the mechanism of the grains growth. The undoped sample has a critical temperature Tc of 65 K while in the Mg and Ag containing compounds the Tc is 77 K and 75 K respectively. The Pr containing compound exhibits no superconductivity. A valence of the Pr ion higher than 3+ in the lattice supports the holefilling mechanism of the suppression of superconductivity.