Superconductor with enhanced current density and method for making such a superconductor

US6573220B1 · kind B1 · utility

Inventors

• Jochen Mannhart · Eppelheim, DE
• Hartmut Bielefeldt · Friedrichshafen, DE
• Barbel Martha Gotz · Augsburg, DE
• Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Hilgenkamp · Borne, NL
• Andreas Schmehl · Deiningen, DE
• Christof Walter Schneider · Königsbrunn, DE
• Robert Schulz · Grayling, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 3, 2003
• Expiry date: May 30, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S505/809

Abstract

The present invention concerns an enhancement of the supercurrent carrying capabilities of bicrystalline or polycrystalline high-Tc superconductors, i.e. the critical current densities in such superconductors. The current transport properties are improved by chemically altering, especially doping, the superconductors. It seems that a modification of the space-charge layers at the boundary, e.g. by an increase of the mobile charge carrier concentrations particularly in the superconductor's grain boundaries, which concentrations differ from those resulting in optimum superconducting properties of the grains, are responsible for this positive effect.