LAUSR

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 (Bi1.6Pb0.4)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, Tc-zero and onset temperature, Tc-onset at 81 K and 69 K, respectively. Addition of Cr2S3 decreased the transition temperature. The peak temperature, Tp 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.