Oxide Superconducting Materials
Introduction
Superconductivity is a phenomenon of almost zero electrical resistance, which occurs in certain materials at extremely low temperatures. Oxide Superconducting materials are a complex of molecules held together by strong covalent bonds and oxygen-oxygen bonds. Oxides of certain metals, such as iron, magnesium, nickel and cobalt, yield oxide superconductors; though they were discovered in 1986, they continue to provide a puzzle to scientists.
Preparation of oxide superconductors
Oxide superconductors are prepared from transition metal oxides by doping them with small amounts (less than 1%) of an alkali metal, like cesium or lithium. This process of doping is called oxidizing and it increases the electrical conductivity of the superconductor. The transition metal oxide is first heated in a vacuum and then reduced to a fine powder. After that, the particular amount of alkali metal is added and the mixture is heated again, in presence of oxygen. The well-known oxide superconductors are: Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO), La-Ba-Cu-O (LBCO) and Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BPSCCO).
Properties of Oxide Superconductors
Oxide superconductors exhibit unusual properties related to the fact that they are made up of many small molecules. The superfluidic effect is observed in these superconductors; this is the ability of electrons to travel through the material without any resistance. Oxide superconductors also have a very high temperature tolerance, meaning they can remain superconducting at temperatures much higher than most other materials. These properties make the use of oxide superconductors very attractive in applications such as high-speed electronics and power transmission.
Applications
The potential applications of oxide superconductors are far-reaching. These materials can be used to produce high-field magnets which are used in medical and nuclear imaging, magnetic levitation trains and high-energy physics, to name a few. Oxide superconductors could also be used to create ultra-efficient superconducting computers and high-speed electronic circuits which can process data at extremely high speeds, far faster than conventional electronics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, oxide superconducting materials are a fascinating and complex subject to study. Even though these materials were discovered over 30 years ago, scientists continue to research and experiment with them to further explore their unique properties and potential applications. By learning more about oxide superconductors, it is possible to create solutions to many of the energy and technology-related problems facing modern society.
