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NASA NTRS1988

High-temperature processing of cuprate oxide superconductors

Superconducting Y1Ba2Cu3O7 ('123') films were fabricated on the Y2BaCuO5 ('211') phase substrate. The superconducting characteristics of these films, in terms of superconducting transition temperature (Tc) and width, are better than those using other oxide compounds as substrates. In addition, using high-temperature processing, the bulk 211 phase was converted into the 123 phase. A new high Tc copper oxide material with non-rare-earth elements (Bi-Sr-Cu-O) was prepared using similar high-temperature processing. High-temperature processing presents an alternative synthetic route in the search of new high Tc superconductors.

Wu, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Study of high temperature oxide superconductors

Experimental studies are reported whose results indicate that proper processing procedures are critical to the formation of high-temperature copper oxide superconductors. Superconducting 123 films can be fabricated using the green 211 phase as a substrate. The transition temperature and transition width characteristics of these films are better than those obtained when other oxide compounds are used as substrates. A compact or single-crystal 211 phase will be desirable as a substrate for high-quality thin films. A new high T(c) copper oxide compound with nonrare earth elements was prepared using high-temperature processing. A YBa2Cu3O7-Ag composite with improved electrical conductivity was also prepared.

Wu, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Electrical properties of Al-In-Sn alloys directionally solidified in high and low gravitational fields

The Al-In-Sn alloys were directionally solidified in the NASA KC-135 aircraft which flies a series of parabolas to generate high (high-g) and low (low-g) gravity forces parallel to the longitudinal growth axis. Thus, for a given sample, successive sections can be identified which were solidified in high-g and low-g. Measurements of the electronic properties of the samples reveal that: the resistivity of the low-g sections is larger (about a factor of 10) than that of the high-g sections; the low-g sections behave conductively like a semi-metal, while the high-g sections are essentially metallic; and both high-g and low-g sections are superconducting but the superconducting transition temperature of the low-g sections is 1 K higher than that of the high-g sections.

Wu, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Superconductivity at 93 K in a new mixed-phase Y-Ba-Cu-O compound system at ambient pressure

A stable and reproducible superconductivity transition between 80 and 93 K has been achieved and maintained in a Y-Ba-Cu-O compound system at ambient pressure in a simple liquid-nitrogen Dewar. An upper critical field Hc2(0) estimate of between 80 and 180 T is obtained, and the paramagnetic limiting field at 0 K for a sample with a T(c) of about 90 K is 165 T. It is suggested that the lattice parameters, the valence ratio, and the sample treatments all play a role in achieving superconductivity above 77 K.

Wu, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Pressure dependence of the electrical properties of GaBi solidified in low gravity

Immiscible GaBi alloys were solidified during free fall in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center drop tower, which provides about 4.5 seconds of low gravity. The electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility were measured as a function of pressure (up to 18 kbar) and temperature (300 K to 4.2 K) of drop tower (DT) and ground control (GC) samples prepared under identical conditions, except for gravity. At ambient pressure the electrical resistance of the DT sample exhibits a broad maximum at 100 K, while that of GC sample decreases rapidly as temperature decreases. Both DT and GC samples become superconducting at 7.7 K. However, a minor second superconducting phase with a transition temperature at 8.3 K is observed only in the DT samples.

Wu, M. K.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Electrical properties of Al-In-Sn alloys directionally solidified in high and low gravitational fields

The Al-In-Sn alloys were directionally solidified in the NASA KC-135 aircraft which flies a series of parabolas to generate high (high-g) and low (low-g) gravity forces parallel to the longitudinal growth axis. Thus, for a given sample, successive sections can be identified which were solidified in high-g and low-g. Measurements of the electronic properties of the samples reveal that: the resistivity of the low-g sections is larger (about a factor of 10) than that of the high-g sections; the low-g sections behave conductively like a semi-metal, while the high-g sections are essentially metallic; and both high-g and low-g sections are superconducting but the superconducting transition temperature of the low-g sections is 1 K higher than that of the high-g sections.

Curreri, P. A.↗