Structural and electrical resistivity studies on Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca4Cu5O y composition synthesized by different routes

Since the discovery of superconductivity in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system [1], several experimental investigators have verified that Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O systems synthesized by different routes possess phases with Tc of 20, 80 and 110 K. Studies of disproportionation reaction by varying the doping concentration of Pb [2-4] in this system have also been reported. In this investigation we varied the synthesis conditions in Bi2_xPbxSr2Ca4CusOy composition in order to investigate the formation of superconducting phases, their disproportionation reaction and possible textured growth. We attempted synthesis of the above composition by three different routes: matrix ceramic (MC), glass ceramic (GC) and melt texture (MT). The resultant samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAD) and resistivity [p(T)] measurements and the results are reported.