Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility

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...

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Main Authors: Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat, Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik, Chen, Soo Kien, Lim, Kean Pah, Hoo, Keong Peh, Abdul Halim Shaari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/1/SML%2018.pdf
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author Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat,
Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik,
Chen, Soo Kien
Lim, Kean Pah
Hoo, Keong Peh
Abdul Halim Shaari,
author_facet Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat,
Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik,
Chen, Soo Kien
Lim, Kean Pah
Hoo, Keong Peh
Abdul Halim Shaari,
author_sort Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description 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.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:257292025-08-07T05:16:00Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/ Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat, Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik, Chen, Soo Kien Lim, Kean Pah Hoo, Keong Peh Abdul Halim Shaari, 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. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/1/SML%2018.pdf Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat, and Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik, and Chen, Soo Kien and Lim, Kean Pah and Hoo, Keong Peh and Abdul Halim Shaari, (2025) Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility. Sains Malaysiana, 54 (5). pp. 1427-1437. ISSN 0126-6039 https://www.ukm.my/jsm/english_journals/vol54num5_2025/contentsVol54num5_2025.html
spellingShingle Ryad Alhadei Mohamed Arebat,
Mohd Mustafa Awang Kechik,
Chen, Soo Kien
Lim, Kean Pah
Hoo, Keong Peh
Abdul Halim Shaari,
Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility
title Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility
title_full Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility
title_fullStr Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility
title_full_unstemmed Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility
title_short Superconducting transition in YBCO bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and AC susceptibility
title_sort superconducting transition in ybco bulk ceramics: correlating sintering temperature, phase formation, and ac susceptibility
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25729/1/SML%2018.pdf