American Superconductor Corporation

Wei Zhang

Martin W Rupich

Edward J Siegal

Xiaoping Li

Qi Li

Yibing Huang

Thomas A Kodenkandath

Leslie G Fritzemeier

Suresh Annavarapu

Darren Verebelyi

Urs-Detlev Schoop

Joseph Lynch

Valery Prunier

Walter C Palm

A method for producing a thick film includes disposing a precursor solution onto a substrate to form a precursor film. The precursor solution contains precursor components to a rare-earth/alkaline-earth-metal/transition-metal oxide including a salt of a rare earth element, a salt of an alkaline earth metal, and a salt of a transition metal in one or more solvents, wherein at least one of the salts is a fluoride-containing salt, and wherein the ratio of the transition metal to the alkaline earth metal is greater than 1.5. The precursor solution is treated to form a rare earth-alkaline earth-metal transition metal oxide superconductor film having a thickness greater than 0.8 &#x3bc;m. precursor solution.

Thick superconductor films with improved performance

Superconductor wires or layers having improved properties and methods for making the same are described. The superconducting layer includes a rare earth element-alkaline earth element-transition metal oxide having an average stacking fault density that is greater than about 0.01 nm, wherein two or more rare earth cations form the rare earth element. To form the superconductor layer of the present invention, a layer having a rare earth element-alkaline earth element-transition metal oxide substantially in a first crystal structure can be provided to a substrate where two or more rare earth cations form the rare earth element. The layer can then be heated at a temperature that is greater than 550&#xb0; C. under oxidizing conditions to form a high-temperature superconducting layer substantially in a second crystal structure.

High temperature superconductors having planar magnetic flux pinning centers and methods for making the same

Under one aspect, a method of making a superconductor wire includes providing an oxide superconductor layer overlaying a substrate; forming a substantially continuous barrier layer over the oxide superconductor layer, the barrier layer including metal; depositing a layer of metal particles over the barrier layer, said depositing including applying a liquid including metal particles over the barrier layer; and sintering the layer of metal particles to form a substantially continuous metal layer over the barrier layer. In one or more embodiments, the oxide superconductor layer is oxygen-deficient, and the method may include oxidizing the oxygen-deficient oxide superconductor layer. At least a portion of the sintering and the oxidizing may occur simultaneously, for example by performing them at an oxygen partial pressure and a temperature sufficient to both sinter the metal particles and to oxidize the oxygen-deficient oxide superconductor layer.

Systems and methods for solution-based deposition of metallic cap layers for high temperature superconductor wires

A superconducting wire includes first and second superconducting layers disposed on one or more substrates in stacked relationship, the first superconducting layer comprising a high temperature superconducting oxide of a first composition and the second superconducting layer comprising a high temperature superconducting layer of a second composition, wherein the first and second compositions are different. The first superconductor layer optionally includes a high temperature superconductor composition selected to provide enhanced critical current (Ic(c)) in the presence of magnetic fields perpendicular to surface of the superconducting layer (H//c). The second superconductor layer optionally includes a high temperature superconductor composition selected to provide enhanced critical current (Ic) in the presence of magnetic fields parallel to surface of the superconducting layer (H//ab).

High temperature superconducting wires and coils

The invention relates to multi-layer articles and methods of making such articles. The methods include first conditioning the surface of an underlying layer, such as a buffer layer or a superconductor layer, then disposing a layer of material on the conditioned surface. The conditioned surface can be a high quality surface. Superconductor articles formed by these methods can exhibit relatively high critical current densities.

Multi-layer articles and methods of making same

The invention relates to superconductor articles, and compositions and methods for making superconductor articles. The methods can include using a precursor solution having a relatively small concentration of total free acid. The articles can include more than one layer of superconductor material in which at least one layer of superconductor material can be formed by a solution process, such as a solution process involving the use of metalorganic precursors.

Superconductor reactors, methods and systems are disclosed.

Superconductor methods and reactors

A process is described for formation of oxide films independent of thickness from precursor films comprising metals, metal oxides, and metal fluorides with properties and structures similar to those previously only obtained in thin films, for example less than about 0.4 microns.

Control of oxide layer reaction rates

The invention relates to methods and compositions for making a multi-layer article. The compositions can be used in relatively fast methods which can superconductor material intermediates that have relatively few cracks and/or blisters. The compositions can have relatively low water contents.

Methods and compositions for making a multi-layer article

The invention relates to multi-layer articles and methods of making such articles. The multi-layer superconductors can have one or more layers with an oriented termination plane. The methods include first conditioning the termination plane of an underlying layer, such as a buffer layer or a superconductor layer, then disposing a layer of material on the conditioned termination plane. The conditioned termination plane can be a high quality termination plane. Superconductor articles formed by these methods can exhibit relatively high critical current densities.

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Shrewsbury, MA, United States of America

Wei Zhang