Samples of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ superconductor were prepared by solid-state reaction method to study the effects of gold nanoparticles addition to the superconducting system, Nano-Au was introduced by small weight percentages (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.25 weight %). Phase identification and microstructural
characterization of the samples were investigated using XRD and SEM. Moreover, DC electrical resistivity as a function of the temperature, critical current density Jc, AC magnetic susceptibility, and DC magnetization measurements were carried to evaluate the relative performance of samples. x-ray diffraction analysis showed that both (Bi,Pb)-2223 and Bi-2212 phases coexist in the samples having an orthorhombic crystal structure. Both the onset critical temperatures Tc (onset) and zero electrical resistivity critical temperatures Tc (R=0) of the samples were determined from the DC electrical resistivity measurements. An improvement of the superconducting transition temperature of 6.36 % was obtained with increasing Au nanoparticles to x = 1.25 wt.%, while the critical current density is improved by 220 %. AC magnetic susceptibility measurement showed that the diamagnetic fraction and intergranular coupling of the x = 1.25 wt.% sample are greater than those of the others. The variation of magnetization with temperature (M-T curve) of the samples was measured by cooling the sample in zero fields (ZFC) and an applied field of 10 Oe (FC). The results of AC magnetic susceptibility and DC magnetization measurements were in good agreement with DC electrical resistivity measurement.
