Technology Commercialization and Partnerships | BSA 10-20: Iron Based Superconducting Structures

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Categories: advanced materials, energy

BSA 10-20: Iron Based Superconducting Structures

BNL Reference Number: BSA 10-20

Patent Status: Application Number 20130196856 was published on August 1, 2013

Summary

High-resolution transmission electron micrograph image of the superconducting layer on its oxide buffer, showing the high crystalline quality of the superconductor.

New iron-based high-temperature superconductors carry record current densities under high magnetic fields, making the materials good candidates for applications including MRI magnets and efficient energy storage systems. The high-performing films consist of iron-based superconductors deposited on flexible metal substrates with oxide buffer layers.

Description

THigh-field applications of superconductors have been dominated by Nb3Sn, a material that allows magnetic fields up to 20 Tesla to be achieved at 4.2 Kelvin. However, Nb3Sn wires typically require a post-winding heat-treatment, which is a technically challenging manufacturing step. The newly discovered iron-based superconductors are semi-metallic low-anisotropy materials with transition temperatures (Tc's) up to 55 K. The combination of extremely high upper critical fields Hc2 (∼100 T), moderate anisotropies of Hc2ab/Hc2c (1-8), and high irreversibility fields (Hirr) makes this class of superconductors appealing for high-field applications. A key characteristic for realizing the potential of these materials is the ability to fabricate them on flexible, preferably metal, substrates - the oxide buffer layers make this possible.

Benefits

C-axis oriented superconducting FeSe0.5Te0.5-coated conductors were grown by pulsed-laser deposition. These tapes have a nearly isotropic Jc above 104 A/cm2 under 25 T of magnetic field at about 4.2 K.

Applications and Industries

Applications include the manufacture of superconducting magnets with extremely high fields for use in MRI magnets, wind turbines, or next-generation energy storage systems.h-temperature superconductors; high-critical-current superconductors; tapes, wires, and magnets of high-temperature superconductors.