Structural, electrical and mechanical properties of the (NdFeO3)x/(CuTl)-1223 superconductor phase

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2023-04, Vol.129 (4), Article 265
• Main Authors: El Makdah, Marwa H., El Ghouch, Nour, El-Dakdouki, Mohammad H., Awad, R., Matar, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied physics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Composite materials; Composition; Condensed Matter Physics; Creep tests; Critical current density; Diamond pyramid hardness; Dislocation mobility; Indentation; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Oxidation; Parameter estimation; Photoelectrons; Photomicrographs; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Spectrum analysis; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Transition temperature; Unit cell; Valence; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; X ray spectra
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-023-06547-8

The impact of adding the orthoferrite NdFeO 3 , at the nanoscale, on the (Cu 0.5 Tl 0.5 )Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10– δ phase formation, microstructure, electrical and mechanical performance was studied. The nano-(NdFeO 3 ) x /(CuTl)-1223 composites, with x  = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, and 2.00 wt.%, were prepared using the solid-state reaction technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that supplementing the host (CuTl)-1223 phase with nano-NdFeO 3 did not alter the unit cell parameters ( a and c ) and preserved the tetragonal structure. SEM micrographs suggested that the inclusion of nano-NdFeO 3 reduced the number of voids and boosted the inter-grain connections. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra revealed the elemental compositions of the various superconductor composites. The superconducting transition temperature ( T c ) and the critical current density ( J c ) increased with the inclusion of nano-NdFeO 3 up to x  = 0.50 wt.%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra analysis revealed the elemental composition and oxidation state of all elements. The Vickers microhardness ( H v ) measurements were analyzed and compared with five different theoretical models. According to H v measurements, the modified proportional sample resistance (MPSR) model provided the best theoretical analysis of H v within the plateau limit regions. Moreover, various mechanical parameters were estimated as a function of the inclusion of nano-NdFeO 3 . The indentation creep test showed that the composite samples with high nanoparticle concentration ( x  > 0.50 wt.%) have dislocation creep mechanism, while those with x  ≤ 0.50 wt.% followed a dislocation climbs creep mechanism. A comparison between NdFeO 3 nanoparticles and other magnetic ferrites and nano-magnetic oxides was reported.