HgBa2Ca2Cu3OY Superconductor Prepared by Vapor Diffusion Process

Arsenic free and arsenic doped HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃As_xO_y superconductors were synthesized in sealed silica tubes by the solid-state reaction method. The Hg vapor pressure can be controlled by a small addition of As₂O₃ in the reactant bars. A series of experimental results obtained from the As-doped and As-free superconductors by ac susceptibility measurement techniques shows that a small addition of As₂O₃ increases the volume fraction of the (HgAs)-1223 superconducting phase and thermal stability of this superconducting phase.