Enhanced Transport Critical Current Density in Ag-Sheathed (Bi1.6Pb0.4)Sr2Ca2Cu3O y Superconductor Tapes with Different Nano-Sized Co3O4 Addition

Ag sheathed (Bi1.6Pb0.4)Sr2Ca2Cu3O (y) (Co3O4) (x) superconductor tapes with addition of Co3O4 nanoparticles (with size 30 and 50) were fabricated using the powder-in-tube (PIT) method. The structure and microstructure were studied along with critical temperature (T (c)) and transport critical current density (J (c)). The nanoparticle added tapes showed a higher J (c) value compared with the non-added tapes. The 30-nm Co3O4 added tapes showed a higher J (c) value compared with the 50 nm Co3O4 added tapes. This study showed that Co3O4 nanoparticles could act as effective pinning centers leading to enhancement of J (c) in the Bi-2223/Ag sheathed tapes. The addition of smaller Co3O4 nanoparticles (30 nm) results in stronger pinning. The full vortex magnetic energy due to addition of Co3O4 magnetic nanoparticles led to the enhancement of J (c).