Electrochemically controlled superconductivity
US4911800A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1988 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The superconducting properties of superconducting compounds are controlled or maintained by active external electrochemical intervention. The superconducting compound forms one electrode in an electrochemical cell. A counterelectrode and the superconducting compound electrode are in contact with an electrolyte and a potential is applied between the counterelectrode and the superconducting electrode. The cell is operated at a temperature near the expected transition temperature of the superconducting material. The potential applied between the electrodes is selected to control a property such as transition temperature. In a preferred embodiment, a superconducting material such as Ba.sub.2 YCu.sub.3 O.sub.7-x serves as an anode and a counterelectrode such as a mercury-mercuric oxide reference electrode serves as a cathode. Suitable oxygen-bearing electrolytes are ozone and trifluoronitrosomethane. In another embodiment, a superconducting cuprate material serves as a cathode and the electrolyte is copper-bearing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.