Ferrimagnetic Cr₂S₃ effects on (Bi_1.6Pb_0.4)Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ superconductor

The interaction between superconductivity and magnetism is an interesting topic because of the mutually exclusive nature. In this paper, we report ferrimagnetic Cr₂S₃ effects on (Bi_1.6Pb_0.4)Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (Bi2212) superconductor with nominal starting composition Bi2212(Cr₂S₃)_x (x = 0–0.20 wt%). The Curie temperature of Cr₂S₃ is 120 K and this is much higher than the transition temperature of Bi-2212 phase (~ 81 K). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the Bi-2212 phase was the dominant in all samples. The x = 0.2 XRD pattern showed the formation of a glassy phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed an improvement in the layered-like microstructure with increasing Cr₂S₃ content. The non-added sample showed the highest zero-resistance temperature, T_c-zero and onset temperature, T_c-onset at 81 K and 69 K, respectively. Addition of Cr₂S₃ decreased the transition temperature. The peak temperature, T_p of the imaginary part of the AC susceptibility χ′′ decreased with Cr₂S₃ addition indicating that the flux pinning capability of the Bi-2212 phase was suppressed. The results were explained in terms mutually exclusive nature of superconductivity and magnetism.