Effects of Ni2O3 Addition on YBa2Cu3O7-δ(Ni2O3)x Superconductor

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of nano nickel oxide (Ni2O3) addition on the electrical properties and critical current density (Jc) of YBa2Cu3O7-δ(Ni2O3)x superconductor. The precursor was prepared by the solid state reaction method. The samples were prepared with the prescribed weight percentages of Ni2O3 at x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 wt %. The effects of nano Ni2O3 were investigated using X-ray diffraction method, scanning electron microscopy, transition temperature, and critical current density (Jc) measurement. The four-point probe technique using the 1 μV/cm criterion was used to measure the critical temperature (Tc) between 50 and 300 K and transport critical current density (Jc) between 30 and 77 K. Tc measurement showed that the critical temperatures of the samples decreased as the composition of Ni2O3 increased. The highest Jc was observed in the Ni2O3 sample of x = 0.15 wt %. XRD results showed all samples had orthorhombic structure. The grain morphology of every sample was almost similar, except for minor variations in texture and porosity.