Novel Functions of Silver on Superconducting Properties for RE123 Melt-Solidified Bulks

The intrinsic effects of Ag-addition on crystal structure and superconducting properties of Y123 melt-solidified bulks have been investigated. Increased c-axis length and decreases of maximum T-c and carrier density caused by Ag-addition suggested the incorporation of Ag into the Y123 matrix, in which Ag+ was considered to substitute for Cu ion of Cu-O chain. It was also found that Ag-addition enhanced J(c) properties all applied fields at 77 K. The distinct second peak of J(c) observed for the Ag-added bulk suggested that the Ag-incorporated regions acted as effective pinning centers under disordered vortex lattice.