Effect of K and Nd substitutions on superconductivity of Bi2223 superconductors

Samples of stoichiometric composition Bi1.8Pb0.4Sr2-xKxCa2-yNdyCu3Oz with x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, and y = 0, 0.01, 0.02 were prepared by the solid state reaction method. Post-annealing experiments were carried out at 500 deg. C for 30 h in order to improve the oxygen homogeneity. They were characterized by the x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), resistivity, magnetization and Raman measurements. The superconducting transition temperature Tczero of the samples varies from 99 to 110 K for different doping. The superconductivity and the critical current density (Jc) of the sample single doped with K are improved compared with the undoped one. We attribute the change of Tc to the variation of carrier concentration. Additionally, the observed change of the normal state resistivity is related not only to carrier concentration but also to the nature of grain boundary links. These analyses are confirmed by Raman and SEM measurements