Synthesis and effect of Al2O3 added in Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide YBa2Cu3Oδ by solid state reaction method

The aim of this research was synthesize YBa2Cu3Oδ (YBCO) and to study the effect of Al2O3
additions at x= 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1.50 and 3.50 wt.%. The samples were investigated through
Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). All samples prepared by solid
state reaction method with calcination process at 900°C and sintering process at 950°C. The TGA
analysis indicated weight loss was complete at 910°C. XRD patterns showed the orthorhombic
structure with lattice parameters a=3.821 Å, b= 3.880 Å and c= 11.663 Å, respectively. The Al2O3
added samples did not show any new peak however the sharpness and broadening peaks was
changed. The crystallite sizes of the samples were calculated from the width of the selected peak
and half maximum. The size is slowly increased by increasing the Al2O3 addition. These result
indicated that addition does not affect on the structure but the crystallite sizes increase affect the
morphology images.