Synthesis of superconducting ceramics Hg0.82Re0.18Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ with different values of δ

Abstract

Samples of the superconducting ceramics Hg0.82Re0.18Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+ were prepared by solid-vapor reaction technique. The preparation of the ceramic precursor started with a mixture of Ba2Ca2Cu3Ox and ReO2 powders with molar ratio 1:0.18. The precursor material was submitted to annealing under three different partial pressures of oxygen using a mixture of oxygen/argon at ratios: 5/95 (sample A), 10/90 (sample B) and 15/85 (sample C). X-ray powder diffraction analysis of the precursors identified the phases BaCuO2+x, Ba2Cu3O5+x, Ba4CaCu3O8+x, Ca2CuO3 and Ca5Re2O12 at different ratios in the samples, indicating an increment in the oxygen content from sample A to sample C. Finally, the precursors with different oxygen contents were blended with HgO at molar ratio 1:0.82 and treated in a sealed high pressure furnace to produce the high Tc superconducting ceramics. Rietveld refinement of XRD data showed differences in the crystal structures of the samples. The measurement of thermopower at room temperature resulted in distinct values, confirming the different oxygen sample doping.