The effect of vanadium doping on superconducting properties of (Bi, Pb)(2)Sr2Ca2(Cu1-xVx)(3)O-y ceramics

We report on the studies of doping vanadium with (Bi,Pb)(2)Sr2Ca2 (Cu1-x,V-x)(3)O-y at low concentration of x = 0.01-0.03. The superconductivity of the samples were determined by employing a.c. resistivity, a.c. susceptibility and X-ray diffraction measurements. For the low concentration range of vanadium we have observed some enhancement effects in stabilizing the high T-c phase, resulting in increase in the volume fraction of it. The role of the presence of two additives in BiSrCaCuO system is discussed in modifying the superconductivity of this system. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.