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Sains Malaysiana 54(5)(2025): 1427-1437
http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5405-18
Superconducting
Transition in YBCO Bulk Ceramics: Correlating Sintering Temperature, Phase
Formation, and AC Susceptibility
(Peralihan Superkonduktor dalam Seramik Pukal YBCO: Menghubungkaitkan Suhu Pensinteran, Pembentukan Fasa dan Kecenderungan AC)
RYAD ALHADEI MOHAMED AREBAT1,2, MOHD
MUSTAFA AWANG KECHIK1,*, CHEN SOO KIEN1,
LIM KEAN PAH1, HOO KEONG PEH1 & ABDUL HALIM SHAARI1
1Superconductor & Thin Films
Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2Department of Physics, Faculty of
Science, El-Mergib University, Al Khums City, Libya
Received: 10 October
2024/Accepted: 16 December 2024
Abstract
Sintering significantly influences the phase composition and crystal
structure of high-temperature superconductors, such as yttrium barium copper
oxide (YBa2Cu3O7-δ, YBCO) bulk ceramics,
thereby impacting their superconductivity. This study investigates the effects of various sintering temperatures
(920 °C, 950 °C, and 980 °C) on phase formation, AC susceptibility, and the
superconducting transition temperature (Tc) in pure YBCO bulk
ceramics synthesized via traditional solid-state reaction method (SSR).
Characterization techniques employed include X-ray diffraction (XRD), AC
susceptibility (ACS), and temperature-dependent resistance measurements via the
four-point probe method (4PP). XRD
analysis confirmed the predominance of the YBCO phase across all samples, with
the highest phase purity (98.9%) and optimal oxygen content achieved at 980 °C.
The superconducting transition temperature Tc-onset measured
by ACS for the sample sintered at 980 °C was 93.21 K, while 4PP yielded a Tc-onset of 91.28 K; both values decreased at lower sintering temperatures. Notably, the
superconducting transition width (ΔTc)
narrowed with increasing sintering temperature, with the sharpest transition observed
at 980 °C, indicating enhanced phase homogeneity and intergranular
connectivity. Additionally, the critical current density (Jcm)
at the peak temperature (Tp) of the
imaginary part (χ'') was calculated using the Bean critical state model,
revealing a maximum Jcm of 7.639
A/cm² for the sample sintered at 980 °C.
Keywords: AC susceptibility
(ACS); sintering temperature; superconducting transition temperature (Tc);
X-ray diffraction (XRD); YBCO bulk ceramic
Abstrak
Pensinteran memberi pengaruh yang ketara terhadap komposisi fasa dan struktur kristal bagi pengalir super suhu tinggi, seperti seramik pukal oksida kuprum barium itrium (YBa2Cu3O7-δ,
YBCO) yang seterusnya mempengaruhi kekonduksian super mereka. Penyelidikan ini mengkaji kesan pelbagai suhu pensinteran (920 °C, 950 °C dan 980 °C) terhadap pembentukan fasa, kepekaan AC dan suhu peralihan kekonduksian super (Tc) dalam seramik pukal YBCO tulen yang disintesis melalui kaedah tindak balas pepejal (SSR). Teknik pencirian yang
digunakan termasuk pembelauan sinar-X (XRD), kepekaan AC (ACS) dan pengukuran
rintangan bergantung suhu melalui kaedah penduga empat titik (4PP). Analisis XRD mengesahkan dominasi fasa YBCO
dalam semua sampel dengan ketulenan fasa tertinggi (98.9%) dan kandungan
oksigen yang optimal dicapai pada suhu 980 °C. Suhu peralihan kekonduksian
super Tc-onset yang diukur oleh ACS untuk sampel yang
disinter pada 980 °C adalah 93.21 K, manakala 4PP menunjukkan Tc-onset sebanyak 91.28 K; kedua-dua nilai tersebut menurun pada suhu pensinteran
yang lebih rendah. Secara ketara, lebar peralihan kekonduksian super (ΔTc) menyempit dengan
peningkatan suhu pensinteran, dengan peralihan yang paling tajam diperhatikan
pada 980 °C, menunjukkan peningkatan homogeniti fasa dan kehubungan antara
butir. Tambahan pula, ketumpatan arus kritikal (Jcm) pada suhu puncak (Tp)
bahagian imajiner (χ'') telah dikira
menggunakan model keadaan kritikal Bean, mendedahkan Jcm maksimum sebanyak
7.639 A/cm² untuk sampel yang disinter pada 980 °C.
Kata kunci: Kepekaan AC (ACS); pendifraksian sinar-X (XRD); seramik pukal
YBCO; suhu pensinteran; suhu peralihan kekonduksian super (Tc)
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*Corresponding author; email: mmak@upm.edu.my
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