1

Superconducting Materials

Group 9:Kyle Koliba

Jeremy Katusak

2Overview

• Introduction• Synthesis• Applications• Challenges• Conclusion• Recommendations

3Introduction

• Superconductors• History• Advancements

4Superconductors

• When below specific temperatures:• Zero electrical resistance• Expulsion of magnetic fields

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Stickstoff_gek%C3%BChlter_Supraleiter_schwebt_%C3%BCber_Dauermagneten_2009-06-21.jpg/800px-Stickstoff_gek%C3%BChlter_Supraleiter_schwebt_%C3%BCber_Dauermagneten_2009-06-21.jpg

5Introduction

• Superconductors• History• Advancements

6History

1911: Superconductivity observed in mercury

1933: Superconducting material repels magnetic field. “Meissner effect”

1973: Nobel Prize awarded for confirming that electrical current flows between two superconducting materials

1986: Ceramic compound created that is capable of superconducting at 30 K. Liquid nitrogen can now be used as a substitute for liquid helium.

7Introduction

• History• Advancements

8History

http://library.thinkquest.org/08aug/02316/index_files/image614.gif

High temp

Low temp

9Synthesis

• The original synthesis of YBa2Cu3O7 heated a blend of Barium-, Yttrium-, and Copper-carbonate at temperatures of over 1000K in the presence of oxygen.

4 BaCO3 + Y2(CO3)3 + 6 CuCO3 + 0.5 O2 → 2 YBa2Cu3O7 + 13 CO2

http://tfy.tkk.fi/aes/AES/projects/prlaser/ybco.jpg

10Synthesis

• New methods for the production of YBCO: • Chemical vapor

deposition• Microemulsion• Sol-gel

http://www.fusione.enea.it/LABORATORIES/SuperCond/depfilm.html.en

11Applications

• Current• Future

12Applications

• Electromagnets• MRI• NMR

http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/magnetacademy/mri/images/mri-scanner.jpg

13Applications

• Electromagnets• Transport

http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/tutorials/magnetacademy/superconductivity101/images/superconductivity-maglevcut.jpg

http://www.schillerinstitute.org/graphics/photos/eco_strategic/maglev.jpg

14Applications

• SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) for detection of mines

http://www.learner.org/courses/physics/visual/img_lrg/squid.jpg

15Applications

• Future:• Power storage• Smart grid

http://www.hitachi.com/environment/showcase/solution/energy/images/img_smartgrid/smartgrid_02.jpg

16Challenges

• Cooling• Materials• AC vs. DC

17Cooling

Vacuum expensive to maintain.

Requires liquid nitrogen flow to provide cooling through length of the cable.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VyTCyizqrHs/Sz1X2fOF_OI/AAAAAAAAGG8/sCjzHR5WEcg/s400/supercon1.jpg

Insulation required for miles of cable if implemented.

18Challenges

• Cooling• Materials• AC vs. DC

19Materials

High-Performance YBCO-Coated Superconductor WiresSee reference

• Current materials are expensive!

• Prices of precious metals continues to increase.

http://silverprice.org/silver-price-history.html

20Challenges

• Cooling• Materials• AC vs. DC

21AC vs. DC

http://cleangreenenergyzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dc-to-ac-inverter.jpg

• Sensitivity to moving magnetic fields

• Difficult to develop applications that implement alternating current as opposed to direct current

22Conclusion

• The unique properties of superconducting materials such as YBCO allow for numerous innovations.

• If production and operation costs can be significantly reduced, superconductors have the potential to replace traditional electronic circuits entirely.

http://web.mit.edu/jbelcher/www/lev.html

23Recommendations

• Invest more research towards increasing the operating temperature of superconducting materials.

• Find more practical ways of implementing superconductors into wire to make it competitive with traditional power lines.

http://folk.uio.no/kristorh/index-filer/PAHansen_KRHaug_YBCO1.jpg

24References

• Li, F., and C. Vipulanandan. "Production and characterization of YBCO nanoparticles." Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on 13.2 (2003): 3196-3198.

• Paranthaman, M. Parans, and Teruo Izumi. "High-performance YBCO-coated superconductor wires." MRS bulletin 29.08 (2004): 533-541.

25THANK YOU

Questions?