Rapid preparation of MgB2superconductor using hybrid microwave synthesis

A novel hybrid microwave procedure for the synthesis of MgB2 superconductor was demonstrated. This procedure has advantages over other methods using sealed tubes or high pressure. Using silicon carbide (SiC) powder as the susceptor, the MgB2 samples can be synthesized in about 10 min by microwave heating. The superconducting transition width of the MgB2 sample was less than 0.3 K, and its zero-resistance temperature was 39.5 K. The critical current density Jc estimated from the magnetization hysteresis is 4.5 × 104 A cm−2 at 20 K and 1 T, which is close to that of the samples prepared by high-pressure sintering.