Sains Malaysiana 55(2)(2026): 339-350

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5502-13

 

Effect of Sintering Temperature on YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ Prepared via Modified Decomposition Method

(Kesan Suhu Pensinteran terhadap YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ yang Disediakan melalui Kaedah Penguraian Terubah Suai)

 

NURHIDAYAH MOHD HAPIPI¹, SOO KIEN CHEN^1,2,*, ABDUL HALIM SHAARI¹, MOHD MUSTAFA AWANG KECHIK¹, KEAN PAH LIM¹, MUHAMMAD KASHFI SHABDIN¹, KAR BAN TAN³, OON JEW LEE⁴, SIEW HONG YAP¹, NUR HUMAIRA YASMIN MOHD ALIMI¹ & XIAO TONG HON¹

 

¹Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

²Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ION2), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

³Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
⁴Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

 

Received: 14 October 2025/Accepted: 9 February 2026

 

Abstract

In this study, YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (Y-123) high-temperature superconductors were synthesised via a modified thermal decomposition method using metal acetate precursors, with the sintering temperature varied between 920 °C and 980 °C. Phase formation, microstructure, and superconducting properties were systematically studied. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) showed a multi-step decomposition process, with final oxide formation occurring at temperatures above 500 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed Y-123 as the dominant phase, accompanied by impurity phases such as Y₂BaCuO₅ (Y-211) and BaCuO₂. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed significant grain growth from 0.85 µm to 1.36 µm as the sintering temperature increased from 920 °C to 980 °C, which enhanced the grain connectivity in the sample. Electrical resistivity measurements showed that all samples exhibited a consistent onset critical temperature (T_c-onset) of 93.1 K, while the zero-resistance temperature (T_c-zero) increased from 75.1 K to 88.1 K as the sintering temperature increased from 920 °C to 960 °C. The improvement in superconducting performance is due to enhanced phase formation and increased grain connectivity. These findings indicate that optimisation of sintering temperatures is a key factor in improving the microstructure and superconducting properties of Y-123 samples.

Keywords: Sintering; superconductor; thermal decomposition; YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ

 

Abstrak

Dalam kajian ini, superkonduktor suhu tinggi YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (Y-123) telah disintesis melalui kaedah penguraian terma yang diubah suai menggunakan pelopor logam asetat dengan suhu pensinteran diubah antara 920 °C hingga 980 °C. Pembentukan fasa, mikrostruktur dan sifat superkonduktor telah dikaji secara sistematik. Analisis termogravimetri (TGA/DTG) menunjukkan proses penguraian berperingkat dengan pembentukan oksida terakhir berlaku pada suhu melebihi 500 °C. Analisis pembelauan sinar-X (XRD) mengesahkan Y-123 sebagai fasa dominan, disertai dengan fasa bendasing seperti Y₂BaCuO₅ (Y-211) dan BaCuO₂. Mikroskopi imbasan elektron (SEM) menunjukkan pertumbuhan butiran yang ketara daripada 0.85 µm kepada 1.36 µm apabila suhu pensinteran meningkat daripada 920 °C kepada 980 °C yang seterusnya meningkatkan keterhubungan antara butiran dalam sampel. Pengukuran rintangan elektrik menunjukkan bahawa semua sampel menunjukkan suhu kritikal onset (T_c-onset) yang tekal pada 93.1 K, manakala suhu sifar rintangan (T_c-zero) meningkat daripada 75.1 K kepada 88.1 K apabila suhu pensinteran meningkat daripada 920 °C kepada 960 °C. Peningkatan dalam prestasi superkonduktor ini disebabkan oleh pembentukan fasa yang lebih baik dan peningkatan keterhubungan antara butiran. Keputusan ini menunjukkan bahawa pengoptimuman suhu pensinteran merupakan faktor utama dalam memperbaiki mikrostruktur dan sifat superkonduktor bagi sampel Y-123.

Kata kunci: Penguraian terma; pensinteran; superkonduktor; YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ

 

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*Corresponding author; email: chensk@upm.edu.my