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Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2024 | Viewed by 7763

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Dr. Daniele Torsello

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Guest Editor

1. Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, 10129 Torino, Italy
2. Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
Interests: superconducting materials; nuclear fusion technology; radiation damage; microwave superconductivity
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Dear Colleagues,

Superconductivity is a fascinating phenomenon that still eludes a comprehensive understanding, leaving room for new experiments and analysis. New materials and approaches for obtaining superconductivity are continuously being discovered, fuelling the need for fundamental investigations and theoretical studies.

Moreover, some materials are now technologically mature or close to becoming so, opening the way to paradigm shifts in several fields ranging from quantum computing and sensing to nuclear fusion technology.

This Special Issue, therefore, aims to provide a space for theoretical and experimental studies in superconducting materials, as well as reports on technological advances based on exploiting superconductivity. Full articles, short communications, and review papers are welcome for submission.

Dr. Daniele Torsello
Guest Editor

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Keywords

superconducting materials
applications of superconductivity
iron-based superconductors
high Tc Superconductors
MgB₂
synthesis and characterization of superconductors
modeling of superconductivity

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 46658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of the Field Trapping Ability of MgB₂ and Hybrid Disc-Shaped Layouts

by Michela Fracasso, Roberto Gerbaldo, Gianluca Ghigo, Daniele Torsello, Yiteng Xing, Pierre Bernstein, Jacques Noudem and Laura Gozzelino

Materials 2024, 17(5), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051201 - 05 Mar 2024

Viewed by 550

Abstract

Superconductors have revolutionized magnet technology, surpassing the limitations of traditional coils and permanent magnets. This work experimentally investigates the field-trapping ability of a MgB₂ disc at various temperatures and proposes new hybrid (MgB₂-soft iron) configurations using a numerical approach based [...] Read more.

\vec{A}

) formulation. The experimental characterization consists in measurements of trapped magnetic flux density carried out using cryogenic Hall probes located at different radial positions over the MgB₂ sample, after a field cooling (FC) process and the subsequent removal of the applied field. Measurements were performed also as a function of the distance from the disc surface. The numerical modelling of the superconductor required the evaluation of the critical current density dependence on the magnetic flux density (J_c(B)) obtained through an iterative procedure whose output were successfully validated by the comparison between experimental and computed data. The numerical model, upgraded to also describe the in-field behavior of ARMCO soft iron, was then employed to predict the field-trapping ability of hybrid layouts of different shapes. The most promising results were achieved by assuming a hollow superconducting disc filled with a ferromagnetic (FM) cylinder. With such a geometry, optimizing the radius of the FM cylinder while the external dimensions of the superconducting disc are kept unchanged, an improvement of more than 30% is predicted with respect to the full superconducting disc, assuming a working temperature of 20 K. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity)

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10 pages, 1800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CMOS-Compatible Ultrathin Superconducting NbN Thin Films Deposited by Reactive Ion Sputtering on 300 mm Si Wafer

by Zihao Yang, Xiucheng Wei, Pinku Roy, Di Zhang, Ping Lu, Samyak Dhole, Haiyan Wang, Nicholas Cucciniello, Nag Patibandla, Zhebo Chen, Hao Zeng, Quanxi Jia and Mingwei Zhu

Materials 2023, 16(23), 7468; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16237468 - 30 Nov 2023

Viewed by 872

Abstract

We report a milestone in achieving large-scale, ultrathin (~5 nm) superconducting NbN thin films on 300 mm Si wafers using a high-volume manufacturing (HVM) industrial physical vapor deposition (PVD) system. The NbN thin films possess remarkable structural uniformity and consistently high superconducting quality across the entire 300 mm Si wafer, by incorporating an AlN buffer layer. High-resolution X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses unveiled enhanced crystallinity of (111)-oriented δ-phase NbN with the AlN buffer layer. Notably, NbN films deposited on AlN-buffered Si substrates exhibited a significantly elevated superconducting critical temperature (~2 K higher for the 10 nm NbN) and a higher upper critical magnetic field or H_c2 (34.06 T boost in H_c2 for the 50 nm NbN) in comparison with those without AlN. These findings present a promising pathway for the integration of quantum-grade superconducting NbN films with the existing 300 mm CMOS Si platform for quantum information applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity)

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9 pages, 739 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ion-Selective Scattering Studied Using the Variable-Energy Electron Irradiation in the Ba_0.2K_0.8Fe₂As₂ Superconductor

by Kyuil Cho, Marcin Kończykowski, Makariy A. Tanatar, Igor I. Mazin, Yong Liu, Thomas A. Lograsso and Ruslan Prozorov

Materials 2023, 16(13), 4520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134520 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 818

Abstract

Low-temperature variable-energy electron irradiation was used to induce non-magnetic disorder in a single crystal of a hole-doped iron-based superconductor, Ba

_{1 - x}

_{x}

_{2}

_{2}

, x = 0.80. To avoid systematic errors, the beam energy was adjusted non-consequently [...] Read more.

Low-temperature variable-energy electron irradiation was used to induce non-magnetic disorder in a single crystal of a hole-doped iron-based superconductor, Ba

_{1 - x}

_{x}

_{2}

_{2}

, x = 0.80. To avoid systematic errors, the beam energy was adjusted non-consequently for five values between 1.0 and 2.5 MeV when sample resistance was measured in situ at 22 K. For all energies, the resistivity raises linearly with the irradiation fluence suggesting the creation of uncorrelated dilute point-like disorder (confirmed by simulations). The rate of the resistivity increase peaks at energies below 1.5 MeV. Comparison with calculated partial cross-sections points to the predominant creation of defects in the iron sublattice. Simultaneously, superconducting

T_{c}

, measured separately between the irradiation runs, is monotonically suppressed as expected, since it depends on the total scattering rate, hence on the total cross-section, which is a monotonically increasing function of the energy. Our work experimentally confirms an often-made assumption of the dominant role of the iron sub-lattice in iron-based superconductors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity)

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13 pages, 3264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Characteristic Analysis of an Axial Flux High-Temperature Superconducting Motor for Aircraft Propulsion

by Jun-Yeop Lee, Gi-Dong Nam, In-Keun Yu and Minwon Park

Materials 2023, 16(9), 3587; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16093587 - 07 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1904

Abstract

In line with global environmental regulations, the demand for eco-friendly and highly efficient aircraft propulsion systems is increasing. The combination of axial flux motors and superconductors could be a key technology used to address these needs. In this paper, an axial flux high temperature superconducting (HTS) motor for aircraft propulsion was designed and its characteristics were analyzed. A 2G HTS wire with high magnetic flux characteristic was used for the field winding of the 120 kW axial flux HTS motor, and the rotational speed and rated voltage of the motor were 2000 rpm and 220 V, respectively. The axial flux HTS motor implements a revolving armature type for solid cooling of the HTS field coil. The electromagnetic and thermal features of the motor were analyzed and designed utilizing a 3D finite element method program. The HTS coil was maintained at the target temperature by effectively designing the current lead and cooling system to minimize heat loss. These results can be effectively used in the design of propulsion systems for large commercial aircraft in the future as well as for the design of small aircraft with less than 4 seats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity)

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18 pages, 3892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cometal Addition Effect on Superconducting Properties and Granular Behaviours of Polycrystalline FeSe_0.5Te_0.5

by Manasa Manasa, Mohammad Azam, Tatiana Zajarniuk, Ryszard Diduszko, Tomasz Cetner, Andrzej Morawski, Andrzej Wiśniewski and Shiv J. Singh

Materials 2023, 16(7), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072892 - 05 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1476

Abstract

The enhanced performance of superconducting FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 materials with added micro-sized Pb and Sn particles is presented. A series of Pb- and Sn-added FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 (FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 + xPb + ySn; x = y = 0–0.1) bulks are fabricated by the solid-state reaction method and characterized through various measurements. A very small amount of Sn and Pb additions (x = y ≤ 0.02) enhance the transition temperature (T_c^onset) of pure FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 by ~1 K, sharpening the superconducting transition and improving the metallic nature in the normal state, whereas larger metal additions (x = y ≥ 0.03) reduce T_c^onset by broadening the superconducting transition. Microstructural analysis and transport studies suggest that at x = y > 0.02, Pb and Sn additions enhance the impurity phases, reduce the coupling between grains, and suppress the superconducting percolation, leading to a broad transition. FeSe_0.5Te_0.5 samples with 2 wt% of cometal additions show the best performance with their critical current density, J_c, and the pinning force, F_p, which might be attributable to providing effective flux pinning centres. Our study shows that the inclusion of a relatively small amount of Pb and Sn (x = y ≤ 0.02) works effectively for the enhancement of superconducting properties with an improvement of intergrain connections as well as better phase uniformity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity)

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13 pages, 3367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurements of Surface Impedance in MgB₂ in DC Magnetic Fields: Insights in Flux-Flow Resistivity

by Andrea Alimenti, Kostiantyn Torokhtii, Pablo Vidal García, Enrico Silva, Mihai Alexandru Grigoroscuta, Petre Badica, Adrian Crisan and Nicola Pompeo

Materials 2023, 16(1), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010205 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376

Abstract

We present the multifrequency measurements of the surface resistance of spark-plasma-sintered MgB

_{2}

performed through a dielectric loaded resonator operating at 16.5 and 26.7 GHz. By normally applying magnetic fields ≤1.2 T to the sample surface, we drove it in the mixed state. [...] Read more.

We present the multifrequency measurements of the surface resistance of spark-plasma-sintered MgB

_{2}

performed through a dielectric loaded resonator operating at 16.5 and 26.7 GHz. By normally applying magnetic fields ≤1.2 T to the sample surface, we drove it in the mixed state. By means of data-rooted analysis, we found that the sample vortex dynamics could be fully described within a single-component approach. Pinning phenomena were present and characterized by a depinning frequency smaller than the measurement ones. The multiband nature of the superconductor emerged in the flux-flow resistivity, whose field dependence could be interpreted well within theoretical models. By exploiting them, the upper critical field was extracted in the low-temperature range, which exhibited a consistent temperature trend with the values obtained at the onset of the resistive transition near

T_{c}

, and was well in line with literature data on other polycrystalline samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Superconducting Materials and Applications of Superconductivity)

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