Determination of the characteristics of Bi-2223 superconductor ceramics with Gd2O3 additions

The effects of Gd substitution in Bi-2223 superconductor system has been investigated for the Bi1.7-xPb0.3GdxSr2Ca2Cu3Oy nominal composition with x= 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 substitution ratios by X ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microskopy (SEM) and density measurements.XRD measurements was employed to determine phase identity. Two main phases (Bi-2212 and Bi-2223) were observed in the X-ray analyses and the values of the lattice parameters were calculated. We can say that Gd substitution in Bi-2223 system leaded to formation of Bi-2212 phase from these results.Surface microstructure of these samples was studied by SEM measurements. İt was detected that Gd substitutied samples have weak connected grains and the crystallization was degenerated.Gd substitution in Bi-2223 system made the system much complex by disrupting the structural coordination