Synthesis and influence of Al2O3 nanoparticles addition on the structural and microstructure properties of YBa2Cu3O7 ceramic superconductors

Superconductivity is a phenomenon in which a number of pure metals and alloys offer no resistance to the passage of electrical current below a certain critical temperature. Throughout the past research on the superconductivity, High Temperature Superconductor (HTSC) such as YBa2Cu3O7 was being focussed for their properties as a type-II superconductor. However, this research was conducted by introducing the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles in order to enhance its properties. The aim of this research is to synthesize YBa2Cu3O7 pure powder by solid state reaction method. Besides, this research is also focussed in examine the influence of Al2O3 nanoparticles addition on YBa2Cu3O7 ceramic superconductors. Finally, this study intended to identify the effects of Al2O3 nanoparticles addition on the crystal structure and microstructure of YBa2Cu3O7. The XRD result of the Al2O3 nanoparticles addition indicate that all sample can be indexed to Y-123 phase by the dominant peak of (103) and (013) with the increment of a and c lattice parameter. The increment length of lattice parameter indicating the Al3+ ions occupy in both Y and Cu sites. Furthermore, the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles does reduce the orthohombicity of sample. The crystallite size of sample was 28.14 nm at 0.50 wt% of addition. The TGA prove that the sample produce a complete stabilize final product at 900 to 950oC.