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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4

Ionic Conductivity Enhancement of Polymer Electrolytes by Directed Crystallization

Here, we report that hot stretching of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) can lead to a preferred orientation of PEO crystalline lamellae, thereby reducing the tortuosity of the ion-conduction pathway along the thickness direction of the SPE film, causing improved ionic conductivity. The hot stretching method is implemented by stretching SPE films above the melting point of PEO in an inert environment followed by crystallization at room temperature while maintaining the applied strain. The effect of hot stretching on the crystalline orientation, crystallinity, morphology, and ion transport in PEO with two types of salts, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and lithium triflate (LiCF3SO3), is investigated in detail. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) show that the orientation of PEO crystalline lamellae induces the formation of a short ion-conduction pathway along the through-plane direction of the SPE films, leading to 1.4- to 3.5-fold enhancement in the through-plane ionic conductivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Designing Optimal Perovskite Structure for High Ionic Conduction

Solid-oxide fuel/electrolyzer cells are limited by a dearth of electrolyte materials with low ohmic loss and an incomplete understanding of the structure-property relationships that would enable the rational design of better materials. In this work, using epitaxial thin-film growth, synchrotron radiation, impedance spectroscopy, and density-functional theory, the impact of structural parameters (i.e., unit-cell volume and octahedral rotations) on ionic conductivity is delineated in La 0.9 Sr 0.1 Ga 0.95 Mg 0.05 O 3-σ . As compared to the zero-strain state, compressive strain reduces the unit-cell volume while maintaining large octahedral rotations, resulting in a strong reduction of ionic conductivity, while tensile strain increases the unit-cell volume while quenching octahedral rotations, resulting in a negligible effect on the ionic conductivity. Calculations reveal that larger unit-cell volumes and octahedral rotations decrease migration barriers and create low-energy migration pathways, respectively. The desired combination of large unit-cell volume and octahedral rotations is normally contraindicated, but through the creation of superlattice structures both expanded unit-cell volume and large octahedral rotations are experimentally realized, which result in an enhancement of the ionic conductivity. All told, the potential to tune ionic conductivity with structure alone by a factor of ≈ 2.5 at around 600 degrees C is observed, which sheds new light on the rational design of ion-conducting perovskite electrolytes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structure and Ionic Conductivity of Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) Electrolytes in the High Salt Concentration Limit

We explore the relationship between the morphology and ionic conductivity of block copolymer electrolytes over a wide range of salt concentrations for the system polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO, SEO) mixed with lithium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (LiTFSI). Two SEO polymers were studied, SEO(16-16) and SEO(4.9-5.5), over the salt concentration range r = 0.03-0.55. The numbers x and y in SEO(x-y) are the molecular weights of the blocks in kg mol -1 , and the r value is the molar ratio of salt to ethylene oxide moieties. Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to characterize morphology and grain size at 120 °C, differential scanning calorimetry was used to study the crystallinity and the glass transition temperature of the PEO-rich microphase, and ac impedance spectroscopy was used to measure ionic conductivity as a function of temperature. The most surprising observation of our study is that ionic conductivity in the concentration regime 0.11 ≤ r ≤ 0.21 increases in SEO electrolytes but decreases in PEO electrolytes. The maximum in ionic conductivity with salt concentration occurs at about twice the salt concentration in SEO (r = 0.21) as in PEO (r = 0.11). Here, we propose that these observations are due to the effect of salt concentration on the grain structure in SEO electrolytes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Multilayered YSZ/GZO films with greatly enhanced ionic conduction for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Strain confinement in heterostructured films significantly affects ionic conductivity of the electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells based on a multi-layered design strategy. Nearly ideal tensile strain can be achieved by a dedicated manipulation of the lattice mismatch between adjacent layers and fine control of the layer thicknesses to minimize the formation of dislocations and thus to achieve optimized ionic conduction. This strategy was demonstrated by a model system of multilayered 8 mol%Y 2 O 3 stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) with Gd 2 Zr 2 O7 (GZO) films, which were epitaxially grown on Al 2 O 3 (0001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with the {111} planes of YSZ/GZO along the Al 2 O 3 [0 1 -1 0] direction. The tensile strain (3%) resulting from the lattice mismatch can be confined in individual YSZ layers with the formation of a coherent, dislocation-free interface upon the manipulation of the layer thickness below a critical value, e.g., down to 5 nm. The strained heterostructure displays a two order-of-magnitude increase in oxide-ion conductivity as compared with bulk YSZ, and a high ionic conductivity of 0.01 S cm -1 at 475 °C can be achieved, five times greater than that of Gd-doped ceria/zirconia. The approach of strain confinement by fine control of lattice mismatch and layer thickness represents a promising strategy in developing advanced electrolytes enabling the miniaturization of solid-state ionic devices that can be operated at low temperatures below 500 °C.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Decoupling Ionic Conductivity from Structural Relaxation: A Way to Solid Polymer Electrolytes?

Using broadband dielectric spectroscopy, we studied the temperature dependence of ionic conductivity and structural relaxation in a number of polymers. We demonstrate that temperature dependence of ionic conductivity can be decoupled from structural relaxation in a material specific way. We show that the strength of the decoupling correlates with the steepness of the temperature dependence of structural relaxation in the polymer, i.e., with its fragility. We ascribe the observed result to stronger frustration in chain packing characteristic for more fragile polymers. We speculate that employment of more fragile polymers might lead to design of polymers with higher ionic conductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microtube-Membrane Methodology for Electrochemical Synthesis and Study of Electroactive and Ionically Conductive Materials, and the Conductivity of MnO 2

A membrane-based methodology for electrochemical synthesis and study of electroactive and ionically conductive materials is described. The Li + -intercalation material MnO 2 was used to demonstrate this methodology. The membrane was a polymeric support containing monodisperse gold microtubes (diameter 600 nm) that span the thickness of the membrane. Bipolar electrochemical synthesis of MnO 2 , from Mn 2+ solutions, was conducted across this membrane, resulting in deposition of monodisperse, hemispherical MnO 2 particles at the open ends of the tubes on one face of the membrane. The resulting microtube/MnO 2 composite membrane makes a convenient construct for investigating the transport properties of the MnO 2 particles. This was accomplished by mounting the membrane in a U-tube cell, placing electrolyte solutions on either side, and driving an ionic current through the membrane. The ionic conductivity of MnO 2 was measured in this way, and found to be 40±10 μS cm -1 when LiCl or LiClO 4 solutions were used as the electrolyte. Finally, the mechanism of ionic conductivity through these MnO 2 particles is discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Influence of Side-Chain Chemistry on Structure and Ionic Conduction Characteristics of Polythiophene Derivatives: A Computational and Experimental Study

Although extensive efforts have been devoted to understanding electronic transport in conjugated polymers, little is known about their ionic conduction characteristics in relation to polymer chemistry, processing, and morphology. This work presents a combined computational and experimental study on morphology and ion transport in thin-film blends of polythiophene derivatives bearing oligoethylene glycol side-chains and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we show that in the amorphous phase, the polythiophene derivative P3MEET bearing oligoethylene glycol side-chains with oxygen directly attached to the thiophene rings possesses lower Li + ionic conductivity compared to its analog P3MEEMT that has a methyl spacer between the oxygen and the thiophene rings. Structural characterization of P3MEET and P3MEEMT thin film upon blending with LiTFSI indicates that adding LiTFSI expands the side-chain domains of the polymer crystallites and reduces the total degree of crystallinity at the same time. Moreover, LiTFSI is found to infiltrate both the amorphous and crystalline regimes at low concentrations but preferably resides in the amorphous domain at high LiTFSI concentrations. Ionic transport measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in both P3MEET- and P3MEEMT-LiTFSI thin films is found to occur predominately in the amorphous domain, and ionic conductivity in P3MEEMT-LiTFSI is always higher than in P3MEET-LiTFSI samples, consistent with predictions from MD simulations. As a result, our work provides a platform to predict and study the influence of polymer chemistry on the ionic conductivity of conjugated polymers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ionic conductivity of binary fluorides of potassium and rare earth elements

The ionic conductivity s of KYF{sub 4} and K{sub 2}RF{sub 5} single crystals (R = Gd, Ho, Er) and KNdF{sub 4} and K{sub 2}RF{sub 5} ceramic samples (R = Dy, Er) has been studied in the temperature range of 340–500°C. A comparative analysis of the σ values for these objects has been performed. Binary fluorides of potassium and rare earth elements were synthesized by the hydrothermal method (temperature 480°C, pressure 100–150 MPa) in the R{sub 2}O{sub 3}–KF–H{sub 2}O systems. The σ values of tetraf luorides are 3 × 10{sup –5} S/cm (KYF{sub 4} single crystal) and 3 × 10{sup –6} S/cm (KNdF{sub 4} ceramics) at 435°C. A K{sub 2}ErF{sub 5} single crystal with σ = 1.2 × 10{sup –4} S/cm at 435°C has the maximum value of ionic conductivity among pentafluorides. The anisotropy of ionic transport was found in K{sub 2}HoF{sub 5} single crystals, σ{sub ∥c}/σ{sub ⊥c} = 2.5, where σ{sub ∥c} and σ{sub ⊥c} are, respectively, the conductivities along the crystallographic c axis and in the perpendicular direction.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A New Class of Ionically Conducting Fluorinated Ether Electrolytes with High Electrochemical Stability

Increasing battery energy density is greatly desired for applications such as portable electronics and transportation. However, many next-generation batteries are limited by electrolyte selection because high ionic conductivity and poor electrochemical stability are typically observed in most electrolytes. For example, ether-based electrolytes have high ionic conductivity but are oxidatively unstable above 4 V, which prevents the use of high-voltage cathodes that promise higher energy densities. In contrast, hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) have high oxidative stability but do not dissolve lithium salt. Here, we synthesize a new class of fluorinated ether electrolytes that combine the oxidative stability of HFEs with the ionic conductivity of ethers in a single compound. We show that conductivities of up to 2.7 × 10 –4 S/cm (at 30 °C) can be obtained with oxidative stability up to 5.6 V. The compounds also show higher lithium transference numbers compared to typical ethers. Furthermore, we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and molecular dynamics (MD) to study their ionic transport behavior and ion solvation environment, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate that this new class of electrolytes can be used with a Ni-rich layered cathode (NMC 811) to obtain over 100 cycles at a C/5 rate. The design of new molecules with high ionic conductivity and high electrochemical stability is a novel approach for the rational design of next-generation batteries.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Decoupling of mechanical properties and ionic conductivity in supramolecular lithium ion conductors

Abstract The emergence of wearable electronics puts batteries closer to the human skin, exacerbating the need for battery materials that are robust, highly ionically conductive, and stretchable. Herein, we introduce a supramolecular design as an effective strategy to overcome the canonical tradeoff between mechanical robustness and ionic conductivity in polymer electrolytes. The supramolecular lithium ion conductor utilizes orthogonally functional H-bonding domains and ion-conducting domains to create a polymer electrolyte with unprecedented toughness (29.3 MJ m −3 ) and high ionic conductivity (1.2 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at 25 °C). Implementation of the supramolecular ion conductor as a binder material allows for the creation of stretchable lithium-ion battery electrodes with strain capability of over 900% via a conventional slurry process. The supramolecular nature of these battery components enables intimate bonding at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Combination of these stretchable components leads to a stretchable battery with a capacity of 1.1 mAh cm −2 that functions even when stretched to 70% strain. The method reported here of decoupling ionic conductivity from mechanical properties opens a promising route to create high-toughness ion transport materials for energy storage applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Integrated experimental and modeling study of the ionic conductivity of samaria-doped ceria thin films

Oxygen diffusion and ionic conductivity of samaria-doped ceria (SDC) thin films have been studied as a function of composition using experiment and atomistic simulation. SDC thin films were grown on Al2O3 (0001) substrates by oxygen plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (OPA-MBE) technique. The experimental results show a peak in electrical conductivity of SDC at 15 mol% Sm2O3. The oxygen diffusion coefficient obtained from molecular dynamics simulation of the same system shows a peak at about 13 mol% Sm2O3. The activation energy for oxygen diffusion was found to be in the range from 0.8 to 1.0 eV by simulations depending on the Sm2O3 content, which compares well with the range from 0.6 to 0.9 eV given by the experimental work. The simulations also show that oxygen vacancies prefer Sm3+ ions as first neighbors over Ce4+ ions. The present results reveal that the optimum samaria content for ionic conductivity in single crystals of SDC is less than that in polycrystals, which can be related to the preferential segregation of dopant cations to grain boundaries in polycrystals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Solvent effects on polysulfide redox kinetics and ionic conductivity in lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have high theoretical energy density and low raw materials cost compared to present lithium-ion batteries and are thus promising for use in electric transportation and other applications. A major obstacle for Li-S batteries is low rate capability, especially at the low electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratios required for high energy density. Herein, we investigate several potentially rate-limiting factors for Li-S batteries. We study the ionic conductivity of lithium polysulfide solutions of varying concentration and in different ether-based solvents and their exchange current density on glassy carbon working electrodes. We believe this is the first such investigation of exchange current density for lithium polysulfide in solution. Exchange current densities are measured using both electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and steady-state galvanostatic polarization. In the range of interest (1-8 M [S]), the ionic conductivity monotonically decreases with increasing sulfur concentration while exchange current density shows a more complicated relationship to sulfur concentration. The electrolyte solvent dramatically affects ionic conductivity and exchange current density. Finally, the measured ionic conductivities and exchange current densities are also used to interpret the overpotential and rate capability of polysulfide-nanocarbon suspensions; this analysis demonstrates that ionic conductivity is the rate-limiting property in the solution regime (i.e. between Li 2 S 8 and Li 2 S 4 ).

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Ion beam irradiation as a tool to improve the ionic conductivity in solid polymer electrolyte systems

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have potential applications in solid state electronic and energy devices. The optimum conductivity of SPEs required for such applications is about 10{sup −1} – 10{sup −3} Scm{sup −1}, which is hard to achieve in these systems. It is observed that ionic conductivity of SPEs continuously increase with increasing concentration of inorganic salt in the host polymer. However, there is a critical concentration of the salt beyond which the conductivity of SPEs decreases due to the formation of ion pairs. In the present study, solid polymer thin films based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) complexed with NaBr salt with different concentrations have been prepared and the concentration at which ion pair formation occurs in PEO{sub x}NaBr is identified. The microstructure of the SPE with highest ionic conductivity is modified by irradiating it with low energy O{sup +1} ion (100 keV) of different fluencies. It is observed that the ionic conductivity of irradiated SPEs increases by one order in magnitude. The increase in ionic conductivity may be attributed to the enhanced segmental motion of the polymer chains due to radiation induced micro structural modification.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The role of electronic and ionic conductivities in the rate performance of tunnel structured manganese oxides in Li-ion batteries

Single nanowires of two manganese oxide polymorphs (α-MnO 2 and todorokite manganese oxide), which display a controlled size variation in terms of their square structural tunnels, were isolated onto nanofabricated platforms using dielectrophoresis. This platform allowed for the measurement of the electronic conductivity of these manganese oxides, which was found to be higher in α-MnO 2 as compared to that of the todorokite phase by a factor of similar to 46. Despite this observation of substantially higher electronic conductivity in α-MnO 2 , the todorokite manganese oxide exhibited better electrochemical rate performance as a Li-ion battery cathode. The relationship between this electrochemical performance, the electronic conductivities of the manganese oxides, and their reported ionic conductivities is discussed for the first time, clearly revealing that the rate performance of these materials is limited by their Li + diffusivity, and not by their electronic conductivity. This result reveals important new insights relevant for improving the power density of manganese oxides, which have shown promise as a low-cost, abundant, and safe alternative for next-generation cathode materials. Moreover, the presented experimental approach is suitable for assessing a broader family of one-dimensional electrode active materials (in terms of their electronic and ionic conductivities) for both Li-ion batteries and for electrochemical systems utilizing charge-carrying ions beyond Li + .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Viscoelastic Properties, Ionic Conductivity, and Materials Design Considerations for Poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide-b-styrene)-Based Ion Gel Electrolytes

The viscoelastic properties and ionic conductivity of ion gels based on the self-assembly of a poly(styrene-b-ethylene oxide-b-styrene) (SOS) triblock copolymer (M{sub n,S} = 3 kDa, M{sub n,O} = 35 kDa) in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([EMI][TFSA]) were investigated over the composition range of 10-50 wt % SOS and the temperature range of 25-160 C. The poly(styrene) (PS) end-blocks associate into micelles, whereas the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) midblocks are well-solvated by this ionic liquid. The ion gel with 10 wt % SOS melts at 54 C, with the longest relaxation time exhibiting a similar temperature dependence to that of the viscosity of bulk PS. However, the actual values of the gel relaxation time are more than 4 orders of magnitude larger than the relaxation time of bulk PS. This is attributed to the thermodynamic penalty of pulling PS end-blocks through the PEO/[EMI][TFSA] matrix. Ion gels with 20-50 wt % SOS do not melt and show two plateaus in the storage modulus over the temperature and frequency ranges measured. The one at higher frequencies is that of an entangled network of PEO strands with PS cross-links; the modulus displays a quadratic dependence on polymer weight fraction and agrees with the prediction of linear viscoelastic theory assuming half of the PEO chains are elastically effective. The frequency that separates the two plateaus, {omega}{sub c}, reflects the time scale of PS end-block pull-out. The other plateau at lower frequencies is that of a congested micelle solution with PS cores and PEO coronas, which has a power law dependence on domain spacing similar to diblock melts. The ionic conductivity of the ion gels is compared to PEO homopolymer solutions at similar polymer concentrations; the conductivity is reduced by a factor of 2.1 or less, decreases with increasing PS volume fraction, and follows predictions based on a simple obstruction model. Our collective results allow the formulation of basic design considerations for optimizing the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and ionic conductivity of these gels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ionic conductivity and the formation of cubic CaH{sub 2} in the LiBH{sub 4}–Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} composite

LiBH{sub 4}–Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} composites were prepared by ball milling. Their crystal structures and phase composition were investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement, and their ionic conductivity was measured using impedance spectroscopy. The materials were found to form a physical mixture. The composites were composed of α-Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2}, γ-Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} and orthorhombic LiBH{sub 4}, and the relative phase quantities of the Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} polymorphs varied significantly with LiBH{sub 4} content. The formation of small amounts of orthorhombic CaH{sub 2} and cubic CaH{sub 2} in a CaF{sub 2}-like structure was observed upon heat treatment. Concurrent formation of elemental boron may also occur. The ionic conductivity of the composites was measured using impedance spectroscopy, and was found to be lower than that of ball milled LiBH{sub 4}. Electronic band structure calculations indicate that cubic CaH{sub 2} with hydrogen defects is electronically conducting. Its formation along with the possible precipitation of boron therefore has an effect on the measured conductivity of the LiBH{sub 4}–Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} composites and may increase the risk of an internal short-circuit in the cells. -- Graphical abstract: An Arrhenius plot of the ionic conductivity of the LiBH{sub 4}–Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} composites (red, blue, green). The ionic conductivity of ball milled (gray) and non-milled (black) LiBH{sub 4} is shown for comparison. The filled symbols are measured during heating runs and the empty symbols are measured during subsequent cooling runs. The conductivity of the composites is in all cases higher during cooling, most probably due to the formation of an electronically conducting layer containing defect-rich cubic CaH{sub 2}. Such layer formation could eventually lead to a short circuit in the cell and reveals a general issue of chemical stability that should be attended to in the development of solid electrolyte materials. Highlights: • The LiBH{sub 4}–Ca(BH{sub 4}){sub 2} composite forms a physical mixture rather than a solid solution. • The formation of defect-rich, cubic CaH{sub 2} in a CaF{sub 2}-like structure is observed. • A new layer containing cubic CaH{sub 2} is conducting and may lead to a short-circuit.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ionic conductivity optimization of composite polymer electrolytes through filler particle chemical modification

The addition of filler particles to polymer electrolytes is known to increment their ionic conductivity (IC). A detailed understanding of how the interactions between the constituent materials are responsible for the enhancement remains to be developed. A significant contribution is ascribed to an increment of the polymer amorphous fraction, induced by the fillers, resulting in the formation of higher ionic conductivity channels in the polymer matrix. However, the dependence of IC on the particle weight load and its composition on the polymer morphology is not fully understood. This work investigates Li-ion transport in composite polymer electrolytes (CPE) comprising Bi-doped LLZO particles embedded in PEO:LiTFSI matrixes. We find that the IC optimizes for very low particle weight loads (5-10%) and that both its magnitude and the load are required, strongly dependent on the garnet particle composition. Based on structural characterization results and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, a mechanism is proposed to explain these findings. It is suggested that the Li-molar content in the garnet particle controls its interactions with the polymer matrix, resulting at the optimum loads reported, in the formation of high ionic conductivity channels. We propose that filler particle chemical manipulation of the polymer morphology is a promising avenue for the further development of composite polymer electrolytes.

bismuth↗

Dipole ordering and ionic conductivity in NASICON-Type Na{sub 3}Cr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} structures

The aspects of structure, dipole ordering, and ionic conductivity of the Na{sub 3}Cr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} crystal with the four polymorphic phases (α, α', β, and γ) have been investigated. The features of the α-Na{sub 3}Cr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} crystal structure and its dipole ordering and relaxation polarization in the low-temperature α and α' phases have been refined. The occurrence of Na{sub 3}Cr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} dipole ordering in the α and α' phases and high ionic conductivity in the β and γ phases is attributed to the structural changes in the rhombohedral [Me{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}]{sup –3}{sub 3∞} crystal frame upon phase transformations α → α', α' → β, and β → γ. A model for explaining the dipole ordering and ionic conductivity phenomena in Na{sub 3}Cr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} is proposed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗