Effect of Annealing on the Superconducting and Structural Properties of Aerosol-Deposited Bi-2223 Films

Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$Ca$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{x}$(Bi-2223) is a high-$T_{c}$cuprate with potential for high-current applications, yet thin-film fabrication remains challenging due to multi-step, high-temperature processes. In this study, Bi-2223 films were fabricated on Ag substrates using aerosol deposition (AD), a room-temperature process that enables the rapid formation of dense ceramic films. The influence of multistep annealing on their structural and superconducting properties was systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that as-deposited films retained Bi-2223 peaks with weak orientation, while annealing improved the$c$-axis texture but also induced partial Bi-2212 formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a transition from dense particle-boundary microstructures to porous, plate-like grains with local compositional inhomogeneity. Electrical resistance measurements confirmed superconducting transitions whose sharpness and$T_{c}$were correlated with phase and texture. These results demonstrate the tunability of AD-grown Bi-2223 films by annealing, underscoring the method's potential as a rapid alternative to conventional film processes for superconducting device applications.