Oxygen-enrichment of YBa2Cu3 YBa2Cu3O7-δ using the fluidization techniqueusing the fluidization technique

TLDR: In this paper, the oxygen-deficient phase of the highTc superconductor, YBa2Cu3O7, was enriched using the fluidization technique to give good superconducting properties.

Abstract: The oxygen-deficient phase of the highTc superconductor, YBa2Cu3O7, was oxygen-enriched using the fluidization technique to give good superconducting properties. The normal method of oxygen treatment at 900°C for 24 h and at 600°C for 24 h has been reduced to just one treatment at 600°C for 12 h by the fluidization technique to achieve almost the same strength of superconducting signal for the YBa2Cu3O7 powder, which establishes the attractiveness of the latter route for the large-scale preparation of superconducting material. The particle sizes were in the range 0–90, 90–180 and 180–420 µm. The fluidized particles were crystalline with orthorhombic distortion.Tconset, estimated using the a.c. magnetic susceptibility method, was 91·3 K. The volume fraction of superconducting material in the product was 83·7–85·3%, one of the highest values reported so far for YBa2Cu3O7.