Investigations on Tl-2223 thin films fabricated through ultrasonic spray pyrolysis under oxygen deficient conditions

In this paper we have shown that polycrystalline films corresponding to Tl-2223 phase can be grown by employing high thalliation temperatures and short thalliation times. Ultrasonically deposited precursor films corresponding to Ba2Ca2.2Cu3.3Ox(Agy) have been thalliated under high vacuum (∼ 10-5 torr) at 890°C to obtain single phase Tl-2223 films. An off-stoichiometric and unreacted pellet of composition Tl2.05Ba2Ca2Cu3Oz has been used as source of Tl. We have shown that oxygen ambient is not necessary for the growth of Tl-2223 phase. The as-thalliated films have Tc’s in the range 123 K ±0.70 K. TheT c has been found to be independent of the addition of AgNO3 to the precursor. The zero field transportJ c has been observed to be > 1.2 X 105 A/cm2 at 77 K. NearT c (110 K-122 K),J c has been observed to follow the power lawJ c ∞ (1-T/T c )p,p 2. A power law withp tt 1.4 has been observed for the temperature range 70 K-110 K. An optimum doping of Ag has been observed to induce about 25% increase inJ c and it also leads to uniform and enlarged grain growth. The surface morphology of Ag free samples contains plate like grains having arbitrary shapes. In contrast to this 0.35 Ag doped sample exhibits nearly rectangular plate like grains