The Effect of the Grinding Method on the Physical Properties of Y134 Superconductor Doped Manganese Oxide Prepared by Solid State Reaction

Abstract

The synthesis of Y134 cuprate superconductor (YBa₃Cu₄O_9.5) doped with manganese oxide powder (Mn₃O₄) was done by two solid state reaction processes used grinding by ball milling and mortar. Then, we characterized the physical properties by SEM, EDX, XRD, iodometric titration and the resistivity measurement. The SEM and EDX showed that the samples prepared by ball milling were more homogeneous and compact than preparing by mortar. The results of XRD referred to orthorhombic structures for all samples. It showed that the manganese oxide unaffected the crystal structure of Y₁₃₄ superconductor. The resistivity measurements showed that the ball milling samples had the upward trend of onset critical temperature from 93.0-98.7 K for adding bigger amount of manganese oxide, being higher than one done by mortar at 91.0-92.7 K. It was in same trend as average grain size and Cu³⁺/Cu²⁺ ratio. Moreover, ball milling could increase efficiency of manganese oxide doping confirmed by the best critical temperature of ball milling sample doped with 0.015 mol of manganese oxide as 98.7 K.