A Study of
High Temperature Superconductivity
With Chemical Substitutions in the 123 and
2223 Systems
Josiah Austin, Renee Catalano, Logan Finger, Robert Haag,
Noah Huffman, Timothy Keebler, Madison Kratzer
Background courtesy of: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/ClOaNjbUPg8/TxBearSJARI/AAAAAAAAAbs/OwFK67eamHY/
s1600/electricity.jpg
PGSS 31 July 2014
History of Superconductors
● 1911- Mercury superconductor
● 1933- Meissner effect
● 1957- BCS theory
● 1987- First high-Tc superconductor (YBa2Cu3O7)
● Modern applications
o MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
o MagLev (Magnetic Levitation) Train
o Particle accelerators
Meissner effect
BCS Theory Explained
● Interaction of electrons with the
lattice structure
- Cooper pairs
● Condensation of electron
velocity-space
- Bose-Einstein Condensate
● Energy gap
- Transition temperature
- Lattice vibrations
● Type I vs Type II
Cooper pairs interacting
webs.mn.catholic.edu.au
Tested Compounds
● Yttrium compounds
o YBa2Cu3O7-x
o Rare Earth metal
substitutions
o Other substitutions
YBa2Cu3O7-x
(courtesy of B. Mills)
● Bismuth compounds
o Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x
o Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2Ox
Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x
(courtesy of James Slezak)
Substitutions
● Dy and Sm complete substitutions for Y in Y-123
● Sr substitutions (complete and 1 mol : 1 mol) in Y-123
● Cu doping at 90% Cu and 80% Cu using Co and Ni in Y-123
● Synthesis of Bi2Ba2Ca2Cu3Ox and Bi2Ba2CaCu2Ox using multiphased base compound
Methods
●
●
●
●
Stoichiometry
Synthesis
Press
Firing process
○ 1-2-3 firing
○ Specialized bismuth firing
○ Final annealing
X-Ray Diffraction
● Cathode rays
● Pattern of diffraction
Diffraction Process
https://fys.kuleuven.be/iks/nvsf/experim
ental-facilities/x-ray-diffraction-2013bruker-d8-discover
X-Ray Diffractor
Important Structures
Orthorhombic
Tetragonal
Resistivity
● Resistivity
o The ability of a substance to oppose the flow of electrons
● Resistance vs. Resistivity
ρ = R A/L
● Resistance testing in the lab
Results (X-Ray Diffraction)
● Several 1,2,3 orthorhombic structures observed
● Multi-phase barium precursors formed into single phase
bismuth compounds
Initial Results
YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-x)
DyBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-x)
Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(x)
Comparison of Compounds
Tetragonal Decomposition
YBa(2)Cu(2.7)Co(0.3)O(7) & YBa(2)Cu(2.7)Ni(0.3)O(7)
Results (Resistivity)
● Compounds that superconducted:
o YBa2Cu3O7, DyBa2Cu3O7, YSrBaCu3O7
● Effects of substitutions on resistivity
o Changes its critical temperature
 In conducted tests, temperatures were lowered
o Effects on current carrying capacity
mV
Discussion
● Successes:
o Parent compound
o Dysprosium substitute
o Strontium (1 mol: 1 mol) doped compound
● Failures:
o Nickel and Cobalt partially doped for Copper
o Strontium and Samarium full substitutes
 Radius/Charge disparity
o Bismuth substitutes
 Heating problems
 Sr vs. Ba
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/medi
a/releases/2004/08/16_Lanzara.sht
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Conclusions
● The experiment succeeded in producing two new highTc superconductors, YSrBaCu3O7 and DyBa2Cu3O7.
● Sources of error and limitations
Any Questions?
References
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