PREPARATION OF 123- MATERIALS

Preparation of 1-2-3 materials: YBa2Cu3O7 is

famous for displaying high-temperature
superconductivity.
It is the first discovered super conducting
material with TC(about 90 K) above the
boiling point of liquid N2 (77 K).
Pure Y-Ba-Cu-O was first synthesized by heating
a mixture of the metal carbonates at
temperatures between 1000 and 1300 K.
4BaCO3+ Y(CO3)3 + 6 CuCO3+ (1/2-x) O2 2 YBa2Cu3O7-X+13 CO2:
Modern syntheses of Y-Ba-Cu-O use the
corresponding oxides and/or nitrates.

The superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-x are

sensitive to the value of X, its oxygen content.

Only those materials with 0.0>X<0.65 are

superconducting below TC, and when x = 0.07
the material super conducts at the highest
temperature of 95 K.
 High temperature superconductors are
prepared using the solid state reaction method.
The steps involved are
(i) Assimilation the powders
(ii) Calcinations with intermediary grinding
(iii) Annealing in the presence of oxygen at
500°C for 8 hours
(I) Assimilation the powders:
Y O , BaCO , were taken in stoichiometric ratio
2 3 3

(1:2:3) to prepare YBa Cu O

2 3 7-x.

• In this step 0.454 gm of Y2O3, 1.587 gm of

BaCO3 and 0.959 gm of CuO powders are
mixed together in an agate mortar for 3 hours to
get the homogeneous mixture gray powder of Y-
Ba-Cu-0.
(II)Calcinations with intermediary grinding.
The grounded sample will taken in a crucible
and subjected calcination at 900oC for 12 hours
for 5 times followed by intermediate grinding.
The mixture will be taken out after the desired
temperature is reached.
Calcinations means heating in the absence of air.
(III) Annealing :
Annealing means slow cooling.
The calcined powder so obtained will be ground well and
pressed in the form of pellets.

The Y-Ba-Cu-O pellets will be sintered in a furnace at

930oC for 12 hours annealed at 500 oC for 8 hours in
oxygen atmosphere.