  The superconductivities of samples prepared by several procedures were found
to degrade under ambient environment. The degradation mechanism was studied by
measuring the change of surface chemical composition of dense MgB2 pellets
(prepared by hot isostatic pressure, HIPed) under atmospheric exposure using
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Results showed that samples with poor
connectivity between grains and with smaller grain sizes degrade with time when
exposed to ambient conditions. In these samples, the Tc did not change with
time, but the superconducting transition became broader and the Meissner
fraction decreased. In contrast, our well-sintered and the HIPed samples
remained stable for several months under ambient condition. The degradation was
found to be related to surface decomposition as observed by XPS. We observed
the formation of oxidized Mg, primarily in the form of a Mg hydroxide, the
increase of C and O contents, and the reduction of B concentration in the
surface layer of MgB2 samples.
