Superconducting properties of polycrystalline YBCO prepared by a pyrolytic process

Polycrystalline YBCO was prepared by a pyrolytic process starting from citrate and tartrate precursors. The effect of the precursor on the superconducting properties was investigated by means of magnetic measurements using a SQUID magnetometer, a Vibrating-Sample Magnetometer and an a.c. susceptometer. The critical temperature is not affected by the type of precursor (Tc=85 K for both). On the other hand, the precursor plays an important role on the critical current density, which is found to be an order of magnitude higher in the sample obtained from citrates (Jc(77K, H=0)=2.3·104 A/cm2 and 103 A/cm2 for the from-citrate and from-tartrate sample, respectively).