STABILIZATION OF BI(2223) SUPERCONDUCTING PHASE BY VANADIUM-OXIDE ADDITION

We report on the ac susceptibility, microwave absorption and dc magnetization of Bi2-xVxSr2Ca2Cu3Oy (nominal composition). Tbe low T(C) (2212) phase (T(C) = 85 K) dominates in the x = 0 sample with extremely weak flux pinning. in x = 0.4 sample, both flux pinning and volume fraction of the high T(C) (2223) phase (T(C) = 105 K) were in intragrain critical current density of the sample with x = 0.4 was estimated and found to be comparable with that of Pb doped Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy superconductor. The data suggest that addition of V2O5 in Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy system increases the volume fraction of the high T(C) phase. Probable role of vanadium in enhancing the high T(C) (2233) phase in Bi-V-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system is discussed.