Growth of Hg0.8Pb0.2Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+delta thick films on Ag using a modified process route

Thick films of Hg0.8Pb0.2Ba2Cu3O8+delta (HgPb1223) superconductor were fabr icated by dip-coating Pb0.2Ba2Ca2CU3O7+delta precursor onto Ag and subseque ntly reacting in Hg vapor to form the superconducting phase. It was found t hat by "burying" the films in precursor powder during the reaction, increas ed HgPb1223 phase purity and increased size of aligned grain colonies were obtained. Such microstructural improvements lead to wider magnetization hys teresis, The optimum superconducting transition temperatures of 133 K were observed in these films. The results showed that this process has a positiv e influence on the formation and growth of HgPb1223, A pre-pressing process enabled the growth of HgPb1223 grains with relatively dense microstructure and improved connectivity. The resulting films exhibited a transport J(c) value of at least 1.5 x 10(3) A/cm(2) at 4.2 K in a zero magnetic field.