SOLUBILITY OF AG IN YBA2CU3O6+Y AND ITS EFFECT ON SUPERCONDUCTING PROPERTIES

In order to determine the solid solubility of Ag in YBa2Cu3O6+y and its effect on superconducting properties, a series of YBa2Cu(3-x)Ag(x)O6+y samples (x less-than-or-equal-to 0.75) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and electron microprobe analysis. The central results are that Ag goes into solid solution up to about x = 0.06 and that initially (up to x = 0.035) superconducting properties are improved - T(c) goes up by 1.1 K, intragrain critical current density is marginally improved and Meissner effect is considerably enhanced. However, at higher x all the superconducting properties are considerably degraded. The implication of these results on the use of Ag as a cladding material for 123 or in a composite are discussed.