SOLUTION-BASED SYNTHESIS ROUTES TO (BI1-XPBX)2SR2CA2CU3O10+DELTA

A comparison of several solution syntheses with a solid-state route to the lead-containing high T(c) phase of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system has b een performed using DSC, TGA, x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, magnetic ac susceptibility, and critical-current measurements. A novel polymer solution synthesis route is shown to yield an increased perce ntage of the 2223 high T(c) phase when sintering is performed at the l ow temperature end of this phase's stability range. Under the best pre parative conditions given in the literature, however, the properties o f samples obtained with the different synthetic methods described in t he present study are shown to be similar. Samples derived from solutio n syntheses have been found to contain higher amounts of carbon precip itates, while samples derived from conventional solid-state synthesis contain CuO precipitates, according to energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses.