Preparation of Bi-2223 from Bi-2201 and Ca2CuO3-CuO conglomerate precursors via solid-state reaction

Abstract

The Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-0 (bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide) family of superconductors includes Bi-2201, Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 with chemical formulas Bi₂Sr₂CuO₆, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₉ and Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₂, respectively. The standard way of preparing these is via solid-state reaction, where stoichiometric proportions of high-purity oxide precursors (Bi₂O₃, SrO or SrCO₃, CaCO₃ and CuO) are mixed by grinding in an agate mortar and pestle, pelletized, and finally sintered at an appropriate temperature for a number of hours or days. The whole process is usually repeated several times to ensure complete reaction and to obtain phase purity.
This study investigates the preparation of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₂ (Bi-2223) from a solid-state reaction of (pre-synthesized) Bi-2201 and Ca₂CuO₃ under normal atmospheric conditions. After post treatment, the finished products are characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD).