Synthesis and Charateriztion of BSCCO System Doped with Ru, Nb and Ho

Samples of Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2-x}$ A$_{x}$O$_{8}$ with A=Ru, Nb, Ho and X=0.0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.2 were synthesized using ammonium nitrate melt method. Appropriate amounts of Bi$_{2}$O$_{3}$, SrCO$_{3}$, and the oxides of the doping elements, etc were mixed together. A small amount of ammonium nitrate was added to the mixture and reground thoroughly using an agate mortar and a pestle. The resulted precursor then heated between 160-170C under hood. Further heating at 400-500 C resulted in the formation of dark colored powder. The powder was then pressed into small pellets and annealed at 950 C in flowing oxygen for 24 hours and then furnace cooled to room temperature. The samples were characterized by measuring their magnetic as well as superconducting properties which will be presented.