Abstract: A precursor material for the preparation of superconductors based on Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+? wherein the precursor material which is as close to equilibrium state as possible, i.e., has less than 5% in average 2201 intergrowths in the 2212 phase; in particular, the present invention relates to a precursor material, which is converted to the final conductor by partial melt processing, as well as to a process for the production of the precursor material and the use of the precursor material for preparing superconductors based on Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+?.

Abstract: The invention pertains to creating new extremely low resistance (“ELR”) materials, which may include high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) materials. In some implementations of the invention, an ELR material may be modified by depositing a layer of modifying material unto the ELR material to form a modified ELR material. The modified ELR material has improved operational characteristics over the ELR material alone. Such operational characteristics may include operating at increased temperatures or carrying additional electrical charge or other operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR material is a cuprate-perovskite, such as, but not limited to BSCCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.

Abstract: A composition of matter for a layered ionic superconductor comprising a plurality of layers of ions and electronic interaction charges, and having a substantially improved superconducting transition temperature is described. An aspect of the composition includes a first layer comprising a plurality of alkali ions and cesium ions in particular that is adjacent to a second layer comprising a plurality of halogen ions and fluorine ions in particular. The first and second layers contain electronic interaction charges and are separated by a predetermined perpendicular distance. Crystalline structure, ionic properties, superconducting transition temperature, and superfluid density for several embodiments including companion ionic species are described and illustrated. Methods for preparing the several embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Terahertz radiation source and method of producing terahertz radiation, said source comprising a junction stack, said junction stack comprising a crystalline material comprising a plurality of self-synchronized intrinsic Josephson junctions; an electrically conductive material in contact with two opposing sides of said crystalline material; and a substrate layer disposed upon at least a portion of both the crystalline material and the electrically-conductive material, wherein the crystalline material has a c-axis which is parallel to the substrate layer, and wherein the source emits at least 1 mW of power.

Abstract: The invention pertains to creating new extremely low resistance (“ELR”) materials, which may include high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) materials. In some implementations of the invention, an ELR material may be modified by depositing a layer of modifying material unto the ELR material to form a modified ELR material. The modified ELR material has improved operational characteristics over the ELR material alone. Such operational characteristics may include operating at increased temperatures or carrying additional electrical charge or other operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR material is a cuprate-perovskite, such as, but not limited to BSSCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for joining oxide-superconducting tubes with a superconducting joint. The process involves the preparation of a partially preformed superconducting material, followed by cold isopressing of the powder of partially performed superconducting material into tube shape and further provided with grooves at both ends of the tubes with a subsequent deposition of a silver layer. The process further involves the lapping of one of the end faces of a pair of said tubes to be joined. These lapped end faces of both the tubes clubbed together on a common silver bush are coated with a paste of the same partially preformed superconducting material in organic formulation. Then these coated end faces are closed pressed together to form a joint. This joint portion and the end portions of the tubes are wrapped with a perforated silver foil followed by deposition of another layer of silver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Bi2223 oxide superconductor composed of Bi, Pb, Sr, Ln, Ca, Cu, and O, wherein the Ln is at least one selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu, and the composition ratio of Sr to Ln is a composition ratio described below. The Bi2223 oxide conductor has a high critical current density in a magnetic field at low temperature and is capable of maintaining a high critical current density in a self magnetic field even at 77 K. Sr:Ln=(1?x):x (wherein 0.002?x?0.015) Also, the present invention provides a method for producing the Bi2223 oxide superconductor, the method including a step of ionizing a material containing elements, which constitute the Bi2223 oxide superconductor, in a solution; and a step of removing a solvent and causing a thermal decomposition reaction by spraying the solution into a high-temperature atmosphere to produce a powder containing atoms constituting the oxide superconductor.

Abstract: A well-crystallized a-axis (or b-axis) oriented Bi-based oxide superconductor thin film is manufactured in order to obtain a high performance layered Josephson junction using a Bi-based oxide superconductor. In manufacturing a well-crystallized a-axis oriented Bi-based oxide superconductor thin film, a (110) plane of a single crystal substrate of LaSrAlO4 or a vicinal cut substrate of a single crystal of LaSrAlO4 is used, on which an a-axis oriented Bi-2223 or Bi-2201 thin film is heteroepitaxially grown at a low film forming temperature T1, then homoepitaxially grown on the grown film at a high film forming temperature T2 (double temperature growth method). Although it is difficult to grow an a-axis oriented film directly on a substrate at a high temperature T2, an a-axis oriented Bi-2223 or Bi-2201 thin film is formed on the base by previously forming the base film at low deposition temperature.

Abstract: A superconductor which comprises a new compound composition substituting for perovskite copper oxides. The superconductor is characterized by comprising a compound which is represented by the chemical formula A(TM)2Pn2 [wherein A is at least one member selected from the elements in Group 1, the elements in Group 2, or the elements in Group 3 (Sc, Y, and the rare-earth metal elements); TM is at least one member selected from the transition metal elements Fe, Ru, Os, Ni, Pd, or Pt; and Pn is at least one member selected from the elements in Group 15 (pnicogen elements)] and which has an infinite-layer crystal structure comprising (TM)Pn layers alternating with metal layers of the element (A).

Abstract: The superconductive nanocomposite is a composition formed by nanoparticles of a high temperature superconductor blended with a polymer matrix containing natural rubber and polyethylene. The high temperature superconductor is preferably a bismuth-based superconductor (BSCCO) having a particle size of about 21 nm, but may be any other high temperature or Type II ceramic, metal oxide superconductor. The superconductor nanoparticles comprise about 15% of the weight of natural rubber in the composition. The polyethylene is preferably low density polyethylene and may comprise between 0% up to about 40% of the weight of natural rubber in the composition. The nanocomposite may be prepared by blending the components and roll milling the rubber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three layer process for making contact points to a high transition temperature superconductor (HTSC), particularly to (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O19+x with and without silver in the superconductor. The contact structure is a three layer configuration with a perforated silver foil (3) sandwiched between two metal spray gun deposited silver layers (2,5) and subsequent heat treatment in air. The contact has been made on tubes and rods (1). The silver contacts are capable of carrying a continuous current of 200 Amps without adding any substantial heat load to the cryogen used to cool the HTSC. The contact resistance at 4.2 K is in the range of 1.5×10 (hoch?8) to 8.5? 10 (hoch?8)OHM in zero applied filed.

Abstract: The invention offers a method of producing a (Bi, Pb)-2223-based oxide superconducting material. The method is for producing a (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3OZ-based oxide superconducting material. The method includes a material-mixing step for forming a mixed material and at least two heat treatment steps for heat-treating the mixed material. The at least two heat treatment steps has a first heat treatment step for forming (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals and a second heat treatment step for increasing the Sr content of the (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals after the (Bi, Pb)-2223 crystals are formed. The second heat treatment step is performed at a temperature lower than that employed in the first heat treatment step, so that the (Bi, Pb)-2223-based oxide superconducting material has a high critical temperature.

Abstract: A high temperature superconductor material of BSCCO-family is provided wherein parts of Sr of the superconducting phases is substituted by Ba.

Abstract: A alloy (Mg—X) of metal (X) and Mg in a liquid phase is made to react with B in a solid phase at a low temperature to manufacture a superconductor, which contains a large amount of MgB2 potential for MRI, linear motorcar, superconducting cavity, electric power transmission cable, high-magnetic field magnet for medical units, electric power storage (SMES), and the like and is formed in the shape of bulk, wire, and foil, by heat treatment performed at a low temperature for a short time and at low cost.

Abstract: A superconducting electrical cable system is configured to be included within a utility power grid. The superconducting electrical cable system includes a superconducting electrical path interconnected between a first and a second node within the utility power grid. A non-superconducting electrical path is interconnected between the first and second nodes within the utility power grid. The superconducting electrical path and the non-superconducting electrical path are electrically connected in parallel. The superconducting electrical path has a lower series impedance, when operated below a critical current level, than the non-superconducting electrical path. The superconducting electrical path has a higher series impedance, when operated at or above the critical current level, than the non-superconductor electrical path.

Abstract: A superconducting electrical machine has rotor and stator assemblies. A first rotor assembly is located to rotate within a stator assembly and is spaced from the stator assembly by an air gap. A second rotor assembly is located to rotate outside the stator assembly and is also spaced from the stator assembly by an air gap. The first and second rotor assemblies have at least one superconducting field winding. The superconducting field windings are formed from a High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) material such as BSCCO-2223 or YBCO, for example. The double rotor assembly configuration provides a new technical effect over conventional rotating superconducting machines having a single rotor assembly.

Abstract: An inductor-type synchronous machine includes field stators having field elements by which an N-pole and an S-pole are concentrically formed, rotors to which a rotating shaft is fixed and has N-pole inductors disposed so as to face the N-pole of the field elements and S-pole inductors disposed so as to face the S-pole of the field elements, and an armature stator having armature coils disposed so as to face the N-pole inductors and the S-pole inductors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-temperature oxide superconductors, which comprises an oxide expressed as (Bi1-xAx)—B—C—Cu oxide (where, A is Sb and/or AS; B and C are elements different from each other, each being one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; and x is characterized by 0?x?1). According to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a high-temperature oxide superconductor having a transition temperature of over 100 K and not containg a rare-earth element at all, and to manufacture an excellent superconductor in reliability and stability easilier than doing conventional superconductors such as Y—Ba type ones.

Abstract: A method for reducing the concentration of non-superconducting phases during the heat treatment of Pb doped Ag/Bi-2223 composites having Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 superconducting phases is disclosed. A Pb doped Ag/Bi-2223 composite having Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 superconducting phases is heated in an atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure not less than about 0.04 atmospheres and the temperature is maintained at the lower of a non-superconducting phase take-off temperature and the Bi-2223 superconducting phase grain growth take-off temperature. The oxygen partial pressure is varied and the temperature is varied between about 815° C. and about 835° C. to produce not less than 80 percent conversion to Pb doped Bi-2223 superconducting phase and not greater than about 20 volume percent non-superconducting phases. The oxygen partial pressure is preferably varied between about 0.04 and about 0.21 atmospheres. A product by the method is disclosed.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor includes a textured superconducting material including an array of defects, where the defects are a compound of two elements foreign to the superconductor, plus other elements native to the superconductor. The two foreign elements include one from group A and one from group B (or alternately the two foreign elements include the element uranium and one element from group C), where group A includes Cr, Mo, W, or Nd, group B includes Pt, Zr, Pd, Ni, Ti, Hf, Ce and Th, and group C includes Zr, Pd, Ni, Ti, Hf, Ce and Th. The array of defects is dispersed throughout the superconducting material. The superconducting material may be the RE1Ba2Cu3O7?? compound, wherein RE=Y, Nd, La, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Tb; the Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox, (Bi, Pb)2Sr2CaCu2Ox, Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox compounds; the HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8 and HgBa2CaCu2O6 compounds, the TlCaBa2Cu2Ox or Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Ox compounds and compounds involving substitution such as the Nd1+xBa2?xCu3Ox compounds.

Abstract: Compositions having the nominal formula BiaSrbCacCu3Ox wherein a is from about 1 to 3, b is from about ? to 4, c is from about {fraction (3/16)} to 2, x=(1.5 a+b+c+y) where y is from about 2 to 5, with the proviso that “b+c” is from about {fraction (3/2)} to 5, containing a metal oxide phase of the formula Bi2Sr3?zCazCu2O8+w wherein z is from about 0.1 to 0.9 w is greater than zero but less than 1, are superconducting. Processes for manufacturing such compositions and for using them are disclosed.

Abstract: Superconductive bodies composed of cuprate material having a very critical current density with outer magnetic fields of up to 5 tesla when the bodies have a content of zinc cations. The bodies can also be subjected to modified oxygen treatment. The preferred cuprate materials are YBCO material and bismuth oxide based on superconductive material such as “2212” or “2223” type superconductive material. The preferred bodies are molded bodies obtained by melt texturing and “powder-in-tube” bodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oxide superconductor thick film which is formed on a substrate or a board and has a high Jc and Ic and a method for manufacturing the same. Predetermined amounts of materials containing elements of Bi, Pb, Sr, Ca and Cu are weighed, mixed and subjected to steps of calcining, milling, and drying, and thereafter an organic binder and an organic vehicle are added thereto to prepare a (Bi, Pb)2+aSr2Ca2Cu3Oz, superconductive paste, which is applied to the surface of a substrate or a board in a thickness of 260 &mgr;m or more and dried. Thereafter, the paste is first subjected to burning at temperatures of 835° C. to 840° C. for 100 hours, then pressurization, and further burning at temperatures of 835° C. to 840° C. for 100 hours, thereby preparing an oxide superconductor thick film having a film thickness of 130 &mgr;m or more having a high Jc and Ic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a superconducting colloid prepared by an exfoliating multi-layered superconductor, represented by the formula Bi2Sr2Cam−1CumO2m+4+&dgr; (wherein, m is 1, 2 or 3 and &dgr; is a positive number greater than 0 and less than 1) in which a mercuric halide-organic complex is intercalated, a process thereof, a superconducting thin layer prepared using the above superconducting colloid, and a process thereof.

Abstract: A method for maximising critical current density (Jc) of high temperature superconducting cuprate materials (HTSC) which comprises controlling the doping state or hole concentration of the materials to be higher than the doping state or hole concentration of the material that provides a maximum superconducting transition temperature (Tc), and to lie at about a value where the normal-state pseudogap reduces to a minimum. Jc is maximised1 at hole concentration p≈0.19. HTSC compounds are also claimed.

Abstract: A multi-layered unit according to the present invention includes a support substrate formed of fused quartz, an electrode layer formed on the support substrate, made of BSCCO (bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide) having a stoichiometric composition represented by Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, having an anisotropic property and conductivity and enabling epitaxial growth of a dielectric material containing a bismuth layer structured compound thereon and oriented in the c axis direction, and a dielectric layer formed by epitaxially growing a dielectric material containing a bismuth layer structured compound having a composition represented by SrBi4Ti4O15 on the electrode layer.

Abstract: Proposed are a selective reduction type high temperature superconductor and methods of making the same, the superconductor having a pair of charge supply layers each formed of a Cu1-xMx surface (1, 1), a first superconducting layer formed of a 5-coordination CuO2 surface (2) and a second superconducting layer formed of a 4-coordination CuO2 surface (3). Reducing M ions (e.g., Tl ions) in the charge supply layers by heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere enables the 5-coordination CuO2 surface (2) as the first superconducting layer to be over-doped and the 4-coordination CuO2 surface (3) as the second superconducting layer to be optimum-doped. According to the present invention, a high temperature superconductor is provided that with its critical temperature held high has a reduced superconducting anisotropy &ggr;, and provides a high critical current density Jc and a high c irreversibility field Hirr.

Abstract: The invention provides certain novel metal oxide materials which exhibit superconductivity at elevated temperatures and/or which are useful in electrode, electrolyte, cell and sensor applications, or as electrochemical catalysts. The metal oxide materials are generally within the formula Rn+1−u−sAuMm+eCunOw  (1) where n≧0 and n is an integer or a non-integer, 1≦m≦2, 0≦s≦0.

Abstract: An Oxide Precursor Powder from the Pb—Bi—Sr—Ca—Cu—O 2223 System can be produced by heat treating powder, produced using the Spray Pyrolysis Process as described in: GB2210605 or EP0681989 between 700° C. and 850° C. in an atmosphere containing between 0.1% and 21% O2. Heat Treatment of the pyrolysis powder under controlled conditions produces a powder with a particular phase composition, that is highly homogeneous and has a small particle size distribution, that is inherently more reactive than powders heat treated in the same way but produced using other processes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating large bulk high temperature superconducting articles which comprises the steps of selecting predetermined sizes of crystalline superconducting materials and mixing these specific sizes of particles into a homogeneous mixture which is then poured into a die. The die is placed in a press and pressurized to predetermined pressure for a predetermined time and is heat treated in the furnace at predetermined temperatures for a predetermined time. The article is left in the furnace to soak at predetermined temperatures for a predetermined period of time and is oxygenated by an oxygen source during the soaking period.

Abstract: A novel process of the production and processing of high quality, high Tc (Bi,Pb)SCCO superconductors starts with fabrication of a precursor article including selected intermediate phases with desired chemical and structural properties. The precursor fabrication includes mixing raw powders with a desired ratio of Bi:Pb:Sr:Ca:Cu elements and reacting the mixture under different selected reaction conditions that form a precursor powder with a dominant (Bi, Pb)SCCO 2212 phase and without Ca—Pb—O phase, wherein the 2212 phase may be the orthorhombic 2212 phase. The precursor article is then subjected to optimized reaction and mechanical deformation processes that lead to a reaction induced texturing and deformation induced texturing, respectively. A heating process is used to convert the precursor powder to the 2223 phase and subsequent deformation and annealing processes may be used to form a substantially single phase, highly textured (Bi, Pb)SCCO 2223 superconductor with high Jc.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic oxide substrate in combination with superconducting film containing Ba can be used to form a dielectric resonator which has a high no-load Q factor at a high frequency and satisfactory superconducting characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a generic method of preparing a metal matrix composite with a textured compound. A “roller-skate” structure starting powder with a mixture of plate-like particles and smaller particles provides better flow compatibility, higher packing density, better densification and texture formation in preparing a metal matrix composite with a textured compound. In particular, the invention provides a method of preparing a textured superconducting composite wire with an improved critical current density.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor includes a textured superconducting material including an array of defects with a neutron-fissionable element, or with at least one of the following chemical elements: uranium-238, Nd, Mn, Re, Th, Sm, V, and Ta. The array of defects is dispersed throughout the superconducting material. The superconducting material may be the RE1Ba2Cu3O7−&dgr; compound, wherein RE=Y, Nd, La, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; the Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox, the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2CaCu2Ox, Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox or (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox compound; the Tl2Ca1.5BaCu2Ox or Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Ox compound; or a compound involving substitution such as the Nd1+xBa2−xCu3Ox compounds. The neutron-fissionable element may be uranium-235. The oxide superconductor may include additional defects created by fission.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor consisting of an oxide which comprises, as constituent metal elements, bismuth, lead, strontium, calcium and copper having a molar ratio of lead to bismuth of at least 0.2:1, and having an internal structure in which domains having a relatively high concentration of lead and no long-period structure are contained in domains having a relatively low concentration of lead and a long-period structure. This oxide superconductor has a storing pinning function and a high critical current density Jc even at a high temperature and a high magnetic field, can be produced by industrial methods, and is easily processed to form wires.

Abstract: A high-temperature superconductor having low superconducting anisotropy includes a two-dimensional layered structure of crystal unit cells each consisting of a pair of superconducting layer and charge reservoir layer. At least a portion of the atoms of the charge reservoir layer are replaced by atoms giving superconductivity, rendering the charge reservoir layer superconducting and lowering the superconducting anisotropy by increasing the coherence length in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A novel process of the production and processing of high quality, high Tc (Bi,Pb)SCCO superconductors starts with fabrication of a precursor article including selected intermediate phases with desired chemical and structural properties. The precursor fabrication includes mixing raw powders with a desired ratio of Bi:Pb:Sr:Ca:Cu elements and reacting the mixture under different selected reaction conditions that form a precursor powder with a dominant (Bi, Pb)SCCO 2212 phase and without Ca—Pb—O phase, wherein the 2212 phase may be the orthorhombic 2212 phase. The precursor article is then subjected to optimized reaction and mechanical deformation processes that lead to a reaction induced texturing and deformation induced texturing, respectively. A heating process is used to convert the precursor powder to the 2223 phase and subsequent deformation and annealing processes may be used to form a substantially single phase, highly textured (Bi, Pb)SCCO 2223 superconductor with high Jc.

Abstract: The invention features high performing composite superconducting oxide articles that can be produced from OPIT precursors substantially without poisoning the superconductor. In general, the superconducting oxide is substantially surrounded by a matrix material. The matrix material contains a first constraining material including a noble metal and a second metal. The second metal is a relatively reducing metal which lowers the overall oxygen activity of the matrix material and the article at a precursor process point prior to oxidation of the second metal. The second metal is substantially converted to a metal oxide dispersed in the matrix during or prior to a first phase conversion heat treatment but after formation of the composite, creating an ODS matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nitrogen oxide detecting element. Although there has been a demand for effecting detection of a nitrogen oxide by using a semiconductor type gas sensor, no semiconductor type sensors have existed which can detect the nitrogen oxide with good selectivity against other interfering gases (CO, H2) for an extended period of time with good durability. Then, by causing a gas detecting portion to include an oxide containing more than a predetermined amount of Bi and maintaining this gas detecting portion at a temperature range where its electron-conductivity is exhibited, it has become possible to detect the nitrogen oxide.

Abstract: A copper-based high-temperature superconducting material includes a carrier supply layer overdoped with carriers; and a superconducting layer comprised of at least three CuO2 layers that are selectively doped with the carriers; whereby a high superconducting transition temperature (Tc) is maintained to be not less than 116 K, critical current density (Jc) is improved to be 5×106 A/cm2 (77 K, 0 T), and irreversible field (Hirr) is improved to be not less than 7 T.

Abstract: A multicomponent powder useful in the formation of BSCCO-2223 is provided comprised of orthorhombic BSCCO-2212 and alkaline earth cuprate, without formation of undesirable secondary phases such as alkaline earth bismuthates and alkaline earth plumbates. A method for the production of the multicomponent powder includes providing a mixture of raw materials comprising constituent metallic elements in a ratio corresponding to a superconducting BSCCO-2223 material and heating the mixture under conditions which form a dominant amount of the orthorhombic BSCCO phase and the alkaline earth cuprate phase while preventing formation of an undesirable secondary phase selected from the group of alkaline earth plumbates and alkaline earth bismuthates. A subsequent heating step converts the multicomponent powder into the BSCCO-2223 and subsequent deformation and annealing processes may be used to form a substantially single phase, highly textured (Bi,Pb)SCCO-2223 superconductor article.

Abstract: A method of producing a Bi—Pb—Sr—Ca—Cu oxide superconductor by thermally treating raw material comprises steps of performing first plastic deformation on the raw material, performing first heat treatment on the material being subjected to the first plastic deformation, performing second plastic deformation on the material being subjected to the first heat treatment, and performing second heat treatment on the material being subjected to the second plastic deformation.

Abstract: A method of forming Supercondtuctors with high critical temperature is described in which heterostructures at the atomic limit are realized artificially by molecular beam epitaxy, sputtering, lithography, chemical synthesis, electrochemical deposition or other similar technologies, made by a plurality of first portions of a superconducting metallic material forming a lattice of substantially equal elements with constant period &lgr;p, at least in a first direction (y), and a plurality of second portions formed by a material with different electronic structure from that of the first portions, intercalated to the first portions to realize the separation between said first portions; the heterostructure is characterized by the fact that the plurality of first portions have a size (L) and a period (&lgr;p) as to satisfy the condition for the shape resonance condition for the electrons at the Fermi level and the plurality of second portions have a size (W) smaller or of the order of the superconducting Pippard cohe

Abstract: A thin-film of a high temperature superconducting compound having the formula M1-xCuO2-y, where M is Ca, Sr, or Ba, or combinations thereof, x is 0.05 to 0.3, and x>y. The thin film has a Tc (zero resistivity) of about 40 K. Also disclosed is a method of producing the superconducting thin film.

Abstract: A clad superconductive wire or tape of an oxide superconductive material and a silver-copper alloy base containing 0.05-90 atomic % copper or a silver alloy. The silver-copper alloy base contains one or more elements selected from the group of Zr, Hf, Al, V, Nb and Ta in amounts of from 0.01-3 atomic %, or contains Au in amount of 0.01-10 atomic %. The silver alloy contains one or more elements selected from the group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba in amounts of from 0.01 to 3 atomic %, or one or more elements selected from the group of Au, Al, Ga, In and Sn in amounts of 0.05 to atomic %. The base material is filled with a Bi-containing oxide of Bi1PbuSrxCayCuzOw wherein u=0-0.3, X=0.8-1.2, y=0.2-1.2, and z=0.8-2.0, and processed to obtain a superconductive wire or tape having enhanced mechanical strength, superconductivity and plastic workability.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor current lead provided with a rod-like or pipe-like oxide superconductor, at each of end parts of which a metallic electrode is formed. In this oxide superconductor current lead, the oxide superconductor is a Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3OX superconductor. Further, the metallic-electrode-portion contact resistivity thereof is not more than 0.05 &mgr;&OHgr;·cm2. Moreover, the critical current density is not less than 2,000 A/cm2. Furthermore, there is provided a method of manufacturing such an oxide superconductor current lead. To perform this method, optimum conditions for conducting a heat treatment when forming electrodes at both ends of an oxide superconductor current lead are detected. Thereby, the contact resistivity during a superconducting coil becomes extremely small. Further, the critical current density is considerably enhanced. In the case of this method, an oxide superconductor (8) obtained by finishing a final sintering process is first worked into or shaped like a rod or a pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a high-T.sub.c superconductor as a precursor material for the oxide-powder-in-tube method, which involves mixing the oxides of the elements Bi, Sr, Ca and Cu and completely melting them at temperatures of .gtoreq.1000.degree. C., then casting the melt onto a substrate which is kept at room temperature, and disintegrating the cooled melt block and grinding it into a powder.

Abstract: An oxide superconductor article comprises silver and an oxide superconductor having the formula Bi.sub.2-y Pb.sub.y Sr.sub.2 Ca.sub.2 O.sub.10+x, where 0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.5, and 0.3.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.4, the oxide superconductor characterized by a critical current transition temperature of greater than 111.0 K as defined by zero resistance by a four point linear probe method with zero resistance corresponding to a resistivity of less that 10.sup.-8 .OMEGA.-cm.

Abstract: A precursor is made from a plurality of materials having different vapor pressures. The precursor and a source material are placed in a closed heat treatment furnace. The source material is materials which are the same as some of the materials contained in the precursor and having particular vapor pressures. The precursor and source material is thermally treated in the furnace while the source material is being supplied, so the particular materials in the precursor have their evaporation suppressed, thereby forming compounds. The compounds may be oxide superconductors, oxide dielectric, and so on.

Abstract: A material formed as a film comprised of monomolecular layers (2,3,4,5) stacked on a substrate (1), wherein said film includes at least one first set (R) of layers which form an electric charge reservoir, and a second set (S) of layers which form a conductive cell and which contain a number of conductive copper oxide layers (4), separated from each other by intermediate layers (5), the reservoir and the conductive cell being adjacent in the layer stack. There are at least four conductive copper oxide layers, and the intermediate layers have the chemical formula Ca.sub.1-x M.sub.x and are free of strontium, wherein x is a real number between 0 and 0.2, M is a component with an ionic radius close to that of the Ca.sup.2+ ion, and the intermediate layers may be complete or not.