Superconducting and transport properties of (Bi-Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O with Cr2O3 additions

The effect of Cr2O3 additions in (Bi, Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors using the conventional solid-state reaction method is reported. Cr2O3 with 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 wt.% were added to the (Bi, Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system. The critical temperature (T-C) and transport critical current density (J(C)) were determined by the four-point probe technique. The phases in the samples were determined using the powder X-ray diffraction method. The maximum T-C and J(C) were observed for the sample with 0.5 wt.% Cr2O3. The variation in the J(C) of all the samples was explained by the effective flux pinning by Cr2O3 in the samples. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.