Phase-stable segmentation of BSCCO high-temperature superconductor into micro-, meso-, and nano-size fractions

Mesoscopic superconducting particles can be used as a model material for the cognition of the properties of a possible superconducting cosmic dust. In order to acquire the desired fraction between 1–10 µm, the method of the grain size separation based on wet sedimentation in isopropanol was developed for the Bi1.8Pb0.26Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x (BSCCO) high-temperature superconductor. The separated size fractions were characterized by the laser diffraction (LD), SEM-EDS, and XRD measurements. All fractions contained the same amount of major 2223 superconducting phase and the mesoscopic fraction meet the criteria for the cosmic dust simulation. Furthermore, the developed method may be also suitable for other purposes, since various fractions of the sizes can be collected, including the nano-sized fraction. Besides that, this method works without producing any dust or noise, which can be useful for possible larger-scale applications.