Effect of boron powder purity on superconducting properties of MgB2

Authors

Xun Xu, University of WollongongFollow
Meng J. Qin, National University of SingaporeFollow
Konstantin K. Konstantinov, University of WollongongFollow
Dayse dos Santos, University of Wollongong
Wai Kong Yeoh, The University Of Sydney
Jung Ho Kim, University of WollongongFollow
S. X. Dou, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

14224

Publication Details

Xu, X., Qin, M. J., Konstantinov, K. K., dos Santos, D., Yeoh, W., Kim, J. & Dou, S. X. (2006). Effect of boron powder purity on superconducting properties of MgB2. Superconductor Science and Technology, 19 (6), 466-469.

Abstract

The effect of the properties of starting boron powders on the superconducting properties of MgB₂ has been studied. The 92% and 96% pure powders produce lower surface reactivity and larger particle size than the 99% boron powder, as can be seen from Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, indicating that the low purity powders cannot be used to archive the same superconducting properties as those of samples made from pure 99% boron powder. However, the purity of 92% and 96% boron powders can be improved by using a simple chemical process, leading to enhanced magnetic critical current densities J_c. From x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement, oxide impurity has been observed, which might be originated from the B₂O₃ phase in the boron powders. In order to get high performance MgB₂, it is obviously important to control the phase composition and microstructure of amorphous boron starting powders and solid reaction conditions.