Synthesis of Single Phase Hg-1223 High Tc Superconducting Films With Multistep Electrolytic Process

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel multistep electrolytic process for synthesizing high-quality, single-phase Hg-1223 superconducting films with high critical temperature and current density, offering an alternative to traditional high-pressure methods.

Contribution

The study introduces a new electrolytic intercalation method for Hg incorporation, enabling the synthesis of single-phase Hg-1223 films at lower temperatures and pressures.

Findings

Films are single phase Hg-1223 with Tc = 121.5 K

Critical current density Jc = 4.3 x 10^4 A/cm^2

Electrolytic intercalation is a viable alternative to high-pressure mercuration

Abstract

We report the multistep electrolytic process for the synthesis of high Tc single phase HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+ (Hg-1223) superconducting films. The process includes : i) deposition of BaCaCu precursor alloy, ii) oxidation of BaCaCu films, iii) electrolytic intercalation of Hg in precursor BaCaCuO films and iv) electrochemical oxidation and annealing of Hg-intercalated BaCaCuO films to convert into Hg1Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+ (Hg-1223). Films were characterized by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrolytic intercalation of Hg in BaCaCuO precursor is proved to be a novel alternative to high temperature-high pressure mercuration process. The films are single phase Hg-1223 with Tc = 121.5 K and Jc = 4.3 x 104 A/cm2.