Applications Of Superconductors Research Articles

Recent development in high temperature superconductor: Principle, materials, and applications

Superconducting materials, discovered in the early twentieth century, have fascinated scientists with their unique attributes. This review provides a thorough exploration of superconductivity, tailored for newcomers, aiming to be a foundational resource for future research. It traces the evolution of different superconductors, including traditional, cuprate, and non-copper oxide types, detailing their specific characteristics. Central to the review is the examination of theoretical foundations, particularly the BCS theory, and the diverse applications of superconductors in high-performance magnets, energy transmission, and quantum computing. However, the practical deployment of superconductors is limited by challenges, notably their operation at extremely low temperatures, hindering widespread use. Furthermore, economic and technical difficulties in production and maintenance persist. To advance superconductors' potential, research must focus on enhancing critical temperatures and current density and developing cost-effective manufacturing techniques. This will enable novel applications in energy, transportation, and healthcare, driving technological progress.

Superior Superconducting Properties Realized in Quaternary La-Y-Ce Hydrides at Moderate Pressures.

The recent revolution in the superconductivity field stems from hydride superconductors. Multicomponent hydrides provide a crucial platform for tracking high-temperature superconductors. Besides high superconducting transition temperature (Tc), achieving both giant upper critical magnetic field [μ0Hc2(0)] and high critical current density [Jc(0)] is also key to the latent potential of the application for hydride superconductors. In this work, we have successfully synthesized quaternary La-Y-Ce hydrides with excellent properties under moderate pressure by using the concept of "entropy engineering." The obtained temperature dependence of the resistance provides evidence for the superconductivity of Fm3m-(La,Y,Ce)H10, with the maximum Tc ∼ 190 K (at 112 GPa). Notably, Fm3m-(La,Y,Ce)H10 boasts exceptional properties: μ0Hc2(0) reaching 292 T and Jc(0) surpassing 4.61 × 107 A/cm2. Compared with the binary LaH10/YH10, we find that the Fm3m structure in (La,Y,Ce)H10 can be stable at relatively low pressures (112 GPa). These results indicate that multicomponent hydrides can significantly enhance the superconducting properties and regulate stabilizing pressure through the application of "entropy engineering." This work stimulates the experimental exploration of multihydride superconductors and also provides a reference for the search of room-temperature superconductors in more diversified hydride materials in the future.

IRIS-A New Distributed Research Infrastructure on Applied Superconductivity

IRIS-A New Distributed Research Infrastructure on Applied Superconductivity

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Information for Authors

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Information for Authors

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Subject Categories for Article Numbering

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Subject Categories for Article Numbering

Robust Superconductivity in Infinite-Layer Nickelates.

The recent discovery of nickelate superconductivity represents an important step toward understanding the four-decade mastery of unconventional high-temperature superconductivity. However, the synthesis of the infinite-layer nickelate superconductors shows great challenges. Particularly, surface capping layers are usually unitized to facilitate the sample synthesis. This leads to an important question whether nickelate superconductors with d9 configuration and ultralow valence of Ni1+ are in metastable state and whether nickelate superconductivity can be robust? In this work, a series of redox cycling experiments are performed across the phase transition between perovskite Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 and infinite-layer Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2. The infinite-layer Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 is quite robust in the redox environment and can survive the cycling experiments with unchanged crystallographic quality. However, as the cycling number goes on, the perovskite Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO3 shows structural degradation, suggesting stability of nickelate superconductivity is not restricted by the ultralow valence of Ni1+, but by the quality of its perovskite precursor. The observed robustness of infinite-layer Nd0.8Sr0.2NiO2 up to ten redox cycles further indicates that if an ideal high-quality perovskite precursor can be obtained, infinite-layer nickelate superconductivity can be very stable and sustainable under environmental conditions. This work provides important implications for potential device applications for nickelate superconductors.

Thermomagnetic instability in superconducting lead-porous glass nanocomposites

In this paper we examine the mechanisms leading to thermomagnetic instability in nanostructured materials and study their regularities. The appearance of thermomagnetic instabilities in the superconducting state of various materials remains one of the problems of applications of superconductors. We studied the temperature and the magnetic field dependences of the magnetization m(T, H) and heat capacity C(T, H) of a nanocomposite consisting of interconnected lead filaments embedded in nanoporous glass (Pb-PG) with filament diameter d = 7 nm. Porous glass contains an arbitrarily orientated multiply connected system of pores of approximately the same size; lead in the nanocomposite forms a replica of the pore system. Thermomagnetic instability was previously observed in this material in superconducting state at T ≤ 5 K on m(H) dependencies in magnetization studies. We established that high enough external heater power P used during the heat capacity measurements in external magnetic field C(H) at T ≤ 5 K can initiate thermomagnetic instability and penetration of magnetic flux into the nanocomposite. The thermomagnetic instability is generally preceded by a sequence of small heat release events with the same magnitude as P. Another sequence of small heat release events is observed in the region close to Hc2. These events are presumably linked to the thermomagnetic instability process and are caused by small redistribution of magnetic flux in the nanocomposite.

Enhanced trapped magnetic field in bulk (Gd, Y, Er) Ba2Cu3O7-y via varied liquid sources in top-seeded infiltration growth process

The practical applications of the bulk superconductors are determined by the trapped field (TF) and its overall performance. This study aims to demonstrate the effect of various compositions of liquid sources on the trapped field performance of bulk superconductors fabricated using the Top-Seeded Infiltration Growth process (TSIG) in air. We utilized a combination of different liquid sources, Ba3Cu5O8, Yb2O3: BaCuO2: CuO (1:10:6) and ErBa2Cu3Oy + Ba3Cu5O8 (1:1) to fabricate the ternary bulk (Gd, Y, Er) Ba2Cu3O7-y (Gd, Y, Er)-123. The use of these liquid sources demonstrated a pivotal role in fabricating single-domain bulks, showcasing significant variation in the trapped field performance. Specifically, the bulk fabricated using ErBa2Cu3Oy + Ba3Cu5O8 (1:1) as a liquid source exhibited the best-trapped field performance, showcasing an improvement of 42.92 % compared to the bulk obtained using conventional Ba3Cu5O8 as the liquid source. An enhancement in the critical current density below 77 K was observed in the bulk material produced utilizing Ba3Cu5O8 as the liquid source, with a Jc (3T, 50 K) value reaching 244 kA/cm2. The flux pinning force density (Fp) was analyzed for all samples to understand the pinning mechanisms in ternary (Gd, Y, Er)-123 bulk materials. Furthermore, the maximum trapped field for a 30 mm bulk sample fabricated using a mixture of ErBa2Cu3Oy + Ba3Cu5O8 (1:1) was measured at 0.336T. These results emphasize the potential for enhancing or controlling the trapped field performance of the TSIG-processed RE-123 bulks by optimizing the liquid source according to the intended applications of the bulk.

R-z plane spatial critical current inhomogeneity-induced mechanical response of GdBCO superconducting bulks during field cooling magnetization

Benefiting from the high critical current density (J c), single-grain (RE)BCO (where RE = rare earth or Gd) bulks are capable of trapping over 17.6 T magnetic field which is crucial for the application of bulk superconductors. Nevertheless, during field cooling magnetization (FCM), the large mechanical stress induced by Lorentz forces may lead to fracture behavior in the brittle ceramic nature of (RE)BCO materials. Most previous numerical models that adopted simplified homogeneous J c had difficulty reflecting the real stress/strain situation in high temperature superconductor (HTS) bulks. Based on the proposed modified Jirsa model considering r-z plane J c inhomogeneity, we investigate the mechanical response of GdBCO bulks manufactured by top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) process. A 2D axisymmetric electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical coupled model is implemented to take into account the dependence of J c upon mechanical deformation. The simulation results show the electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical response of the r-z plane inhomogeneous J c model is lower than that obtained by the homogeneous J c model. This confirms Takahashi’s speculation (K Takahashi 2019 Supercond. Sci. Technol. 32 015007) about the mismatch between experimental data and the simulation results of homogeneous J c model, and suggests the stress levels in the bottom plane of HTS bulk are overestimated by the previous homogeneous J c model. On top of that, the overall stress level of GdBCO bulk is strongly determined by the magnitude and position of the Lorentz force load, and the stress distribution of inhomogeneous J c model is mainly concentrated in high J c regions near top surface, instead of being symmetrically distributed along the z-axis as in homogeneous J c model. The mechanical response of stainless steel reinforced GdBCO bulk was aslo simulated and analyzed. Finally, the coupling effect between the fracture strength variability caused by defects and cracks and the trapped field in GdBCO bulks with r-z plane J c inhomogeneity is further studied. This study may provide a relatively realistic mechanical response of HTS bulk during FCM, and a novel design consideration for its mechanical reinforcement.

Preface

Today, the rapid development in energy and electrical power systems poses new challenges to researchers and scientists that require innovative methodology. As such, we are proud to present the 2023 2nd International Conference on Energy and Electrical Power Systems (ICEEPS 2023) held in Guangzhou, China during November 26th to 27th, 2023. We aspire ICEEPS to serve as an effective platform for academicians and researchers nationally and internationally to share ideas, state-of-the-art researches and future developments in diverse fields of energy and electrical power.The goals of ICEEPS 2023 were to discuss strategies in improving sustainable energy efficiency of electrical power systems, especially in smart grid and micro grid, and provide students and research groups an opportunity to learn more about energy and electrical power systems as an important tool in their research applications and development. The specific topics include but are not limited to: Thermal and Power Engineering, Computation Intelligence in Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetic and Applied Superconductivity, Power System Planning and Scheduling, etc.About 120 participants from countries all over the world attended the Conference and presentations by researchers and scholars representing both institutes and academia. The scientific program mainly consisted of keynote speeches, oral and poster presentations. The keynote speeches were given by Professor Fushuan Wen (Zhejiang University, China), Associate Professor Bowen Zhou (Northeastern University, China), Associate Professor Qing Fu (Sun Yat-sen University, China), and other experts. They exchanged, discussed, and demonstrated their research ideas. Moreover, students were also encouraged to present their work in oral and poster sessions. The rich multidisciplinary background of the attendance produced relevant discussions, touching on many novel concepts that, without doubt, will be stimulating for the participants, and enriching of the fields as a whole.This paper volume contains papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Energy and Electrical Power Systems. All papers selected have been subjected to a rigorous peer review process. As such, we would like to thank all the reviewers, type-setting editors and last but not the least all Committee members for the successful publication of this conference proceedings of ICEEPS 2023.In making this Conference possible, we want to acknowledge our deep appreciation for the support of Guangzhou Association of Yong Technologists & Scientists, China and Guangzhou Association for Science & Technology, China. And we would like to extend an enthusiastic round of thanks to all our Conference authors and speakers for their excellent contributions. Special thanks go to the members of Journal of Physics: Conference Series for their time and outstanding publishing work.The Committee of ICEEPS 2023List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Subject Categories for Article Numbering

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Subject Categories for Article Numbering

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Information for Authors

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Information for Authors

Steering of Vortices by Magnetic Field Tilting in Open Superconductor Nanotubes.

In planar superconductor thin films, the places of nucleation and arrangements of moving vortices are determined by structural defects. However, various applications of superconductors require reconfigurable steering of fluxons, which is hard to realize with geometrically predefined vortex pinning landscapes. Here, on the basis of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation, we present an approach for the steering of vortex chains and vortex jets in superconductor nanotubes containing a slit. The idea is based on the tilting of the magnetic field B at an angle α in the plane perpendicular to the axis of a nanotube carrying an azimuthal transport current. Namely, while at α=0∘, vortices move paraxially in opposite directions within each half-tube; an increase in α displaces the areas with the close-to-maximum normal component |Bn| to the close(opposite)-to-slit regions, giving rise to descending (ascending) branches in the induced-voltage frequency spectrum fU(α). At lower B values, upon reaching the critical angle αc, the close-to-slit vortex chains disappear, yielding fU of the nf1 type (n≥1: an integer; f1: the vortex nucleation frequency). At higher B values, fU is largely blurry because of multifurcations of vortex trajectories, leading to the coexistence of a vortex jet with two vortex chains at α=90∘. In addition to prospects for the tuning of GHz-frequency spectra and the steering of vortices as information bits, our findings lay the foundation for on-demand tuning of vortex arrangements in 3D superconductor membranes in tilted magnetic fields.

Ultraviolet laser-driven ultra-high transverse voltage in Bi-2201 thin films

The development of high-performance optically induced voltage materials represents a significant challenge within the realm of optical detection. The constraints posed by low induced voltage and extended response times have impeded the practical applicability of optical and thermal radiation detectors. In this investigation, we propose the utilization of superconducting Bi2Sr2CuOy (Bi-2201) as a pulsed laser-induced voltage material, revealing the emergence of notable transverse voltage signals in tilted thin films. A noteworthy peak voltage of 25.12 V is attained upon exposure to ultraviolet pulsed laser (248 nm), with a rapid rise time of merely 60 ns. Furthermore, we establish an empirical equation specific to our laser detection heterostructure, serving as a benchmark for Bi-2201-based laser detection systems. These findings introduce a promising avenue for the expanded practical applications of high-temperature superconductors.

On Thermal and Electrodynamic Aspects of the Superconductive Transition Process.

In a classic paper of 1960, W. H. Cherry and J. I. Gittleman discussed various thermal and electrodynamic aspects of the superconductive transition process relevant to practical applications. In a section of the paper that has remained unnoticed, they proposed a physical model for the Meissner effect. Earlier in 1940-1943, in work that has also remained unnoticed, K. M. Koch had introduced related physical ideas to explain the Meissner effect. Still earlier in 1937, J. C. Slater proposed a model to explain the perfect diamagnetism of superconductors. None of these ideas are part of the conventional London-BCS understanding of superconductivity, yet I will argue that they are essential to understand the Meissner effect, the most fundamental property of superconductors. The unconventional theory of hole superconductivity unifies and extends these ideas. A key missing element in the conventional theory as well as in these early theories is electron-hole asymmetry. A proper understanding of the Meissner effect may help with practical applications of superconductors, as well as to find new superconducting materials with desirable properties.

IRIS - The Italian research infrastructure on Applied Superconductivity for Particle Accelerators and Societal Applications

The Italian Minister for University and Research has recently funded a large program for an Innovative Research Infrastructure on applied Superconductivity (IRIS) in Italy. Based on the LASA laboratory in Milan, it is a partnership, in the form of a strongly coordinated work, of existing laboratories of various institutes: INFN (leader, participating with 4 labs: Frascati, Genoa, Milan, Salerno); CNR (SPIN institute in Genoa, Naples and Salerno); five Universities: Genoa, Milan, Naples, Salento and Salerno. IRIS will be an upgrade of existing infrastructures, with new state-of-the-art instruments, reinforcing the capability of Italy in the domain of superconductivity aimed to accelerators. IRIS foresees a strong coordination of the activity of the participating laboratories until 2035, at least, thus enhancing the participation of Italian laboratories to future projects requiring advanced superconducting technology, like FCC or the Muon-Collider, and also for developing societal applications of technologies, pursued for high-energy accelerators, especially for the energy domain and the medical sector. In this paper, we present the two novel demonstrators, part of the initial IRIS program: 1) a green superconducting line, 130 m long and designed for 40 kA current capability at 25 kV; 2) a 1 m long HTS dipole magnet with some characteristics similar to LHC dipoles: 10 T, 50 mm × 80 mm bore, but operating at 20 K rather than 1.9 K.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Subject Categories for Article Numbering

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Subject Categories for Article Numbering

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Information for Authors

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Information for Authors

Enhanced critical current density in optimized high-temperature superconducting bilayer thin films

The superconducting and structural properties of bilayer thin films based on YBa2Cu3O 7−x / YBa2Cu3O 7−x +6%BaZrO3 heterstructures have been studied. In a broad range of magnetic field strengths and temperatures, the optimal bilayer film comprises 30% YBCO at the substrate interface and 70% YBCO+6%BZO on the top. The critical current density measured for the optimal bilayer structure is shown to outperform the corresponding single layer films up to almost 60%. The obtained results are comprehensively discussed in the light of our previously published theoretical framework (Rivasto et al 2023 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 35 075701:1–10). We conclude that the bilayering provides an efficient and easily applicable way to further increase the performance and applicability of high-temperature superconductors in various applications. Consequently, the bilayer films should be seriously considered as candidates for the upcoming generation of coated conductors.

Phase-engineered heterostructures of Mo2C by plasma-assisted selenization and sulfurization processes toward excellent hydrogen evolution reaction

Due to the outstanding semiconducting and metallic properties, 2D materials such as Transition Metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and Transition Metal Carbides (TMCs) appear to be promising candidate for Nano-scale electronics devices. Among them, 2D - Mo2C (Molybdenum carbide) has attracted attention as a new member of the MXene group, owing to its potential applications for superconductors, electronics devices, and catalysts for Hydrogen evolution Reactions (HER). Structural modification toward the creation of novel heterostructures with phase engineering opens new pathways for different applications. Herein, we prepared a large area Mo2C film by chemical vapor deposition method. The upper region of Mo2C layers can be oxidized to create Mo2C/MoOx heterostructures. Furthermore, those oxide layers were further transformed into MoSe2 and MoS2 by plasma-assisted selenization and sulfurization processes at different temperatures with a fixed plasma power of 150 W. The heterostructures demonstrated outstanding electrocatalytic activity for HER due to an existed metallic phase and active sites present after plasma-assisted selenization and sulfurization processes at the low temperature. The performance of the HER decreases at high temperatures owing to their semiconducting phase. The pristine Mo2C showed a Tafel slope of 72 mV dec−1 and an overpotential of 276 mV at 10 mA/cm2, while the Mo2C/MoSe2 heterostructure synthesized at 350 °C350 °exhibited an improved Tafel slope of 66 mV dec−1 and overpotential of 257 mV at 10 mA/ cm2. Additionally, the Mo2C/MoS2 heterostructure prepared at 350 °C also demonstrated a 263 mV improvement in overpotential at 10 mA/cm2. All the heterostructures showed excellent stability over a period of 10 h except Mo2C/MoOx. This work opens new strategies to fabricate high-quality MXene and TMDs heterostructures with metal-semiconductor interface.