Fluctuation induced conductivity studies in YBa2Cu3Oy compound embedded by superconducting nano-particles Y-deficient YBa2Cu3Oy: effect of silver inclusion

The effect of superconducting Y-deficient YBa2Cu3Oy nano-particles prepared by the planetary ball milling technique and silver inclusion on electrical fluctuation conductivity of polycrystalline YBa2Cu3Oy has been reported. Samples, synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction technique, have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and electrical resistivity. Scanning electron microscope analyses show that nano-particles of Y-deficient YBa2Cu3Oy are embedded in the superconducting matrix. The density of these nano-particles strongly depends on milling parameters. The fluctuation conductivity has been analyzed as a function of reduced temperature using the Aslamazov-Larkin model. Three different fluctuation regions namely critical, mean-field and short-wave are observed. The zero-temperature coherence length, the effective layer thickness of the two-dimensional system, critical magnetic fields and critical current density are estimated. Superconducting parameters are affected by Y-deficient YBa2Cu3Oy nano-particles. It has been found that attainment of an optimum concentration and well-dispersed of nano-sized inclusions by ball milling process improves the physical properties. On the other hand, the sample with Y-deficient YBa2Cu3Oy nano-particles and Ag exhibits better superconducting properties in comparison with free added one.