Influence of high level Ag doping on the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7/Ag composites

The role of Ag-additions in the synthesis of bulk YBa2Cu3O7 is extremely va ried. In order to separate and understand some aspects of these introductio ns, this paper describes the synthesis of two series of bulk samples with d ifferent thermal histories as a function of their silver content up to very high loadings (0-80 wt.%), which may have industrial significance. Their m orphological and thermal characteristics are discussed and their supercondu cting properties are studied in detail using AC and DC susceptometry at hig h and low field. They exemplify the role of silver as flux at high temperat ures and as mediator of oxygen transport at lower temperatures. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.