Investigation of the effect of Mn2+ doping on Bi2Sr2-xMnxCaCu2Oy
Abstract
We investigate the effect of Mn2+ substitution on the superconducting properties, critical current variation with applied magnetic field, and flux pinning effects of
the Bi2Sr2-xMnxCaCu2Oy system. Transport measurements were performed for the purpose of characterization. Transition temperature Tc increased for lower
doping with x=0.03 having the highest at 92K and then decreases for higher doping levels. Voltage-current measurements also showed that Mn content of
x=0.03 has the highest critical current (Ic). Normalized Ic plots showed that Mn at the Sr site might not play a vital role on the pinning properties of the Bi-2212
superconductor. Results point to interlayer coupling changes to be the primary factor on the change of Tc and Ic due to the distortions it does on the CuO2
layers. This study gives more understanding to the role of Sr on the superconducting mechanism of the Bi-2212 superconductor.