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The miraculous discovery in 1986: Why can YBCO superconduct above the boiling point of nitrogen?
In 1986, the scientific community experienced a revolutionary breakthrough, which not only changed the field of physics, but also posed new challenges to the development of future science and technology. Neodymium arm copper oxide (YBCO) shocked everyone with its superconducting properties above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. The key to this compound is its unique crystal structure and composition, which allow superconductivity to occur at relatively high temperatures.
Basic science of YBCO
The chemical formula of YBCO is YBa2Cu3O7−x, and the combination of elements allows it to maintain superconductivity at relatively high temperatures of up to 93K. This discovery not only makes it the first material to superconduct above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, but also marks a new era of exploration of high-temperature superconductors. Unlike traditional superconductors, most of which require liquid helium to achieve their superconducting state, YBCO paves the way for a variety of potential applications.
Discover history
In April 1986, German scientists Georg Bednorz and Karl Müller discovered for the first time in the IBM laboratory in Switzerland that certain semiconductor oxides can superconduct at relatively high temperatures. This discovery inspired extensive research on related materials.
Subsequently, Paul Ching Wu Chu's team from the University of Alabama discovered that YBCO has a superconducting transition critical temperature of 93K. This result greatly increased people's interest and confidence in superconductors. As this material was further studied, the scientific community began to explore its potential applications, and YBCO quickly became a star among high-temperature superconducting materials.
Synthesis and structure of YBCO
The synthesis of YBCO is relatively simple and is generally achieved by heating a mixture of metal carbonates. With the advancement of science and technology, synthesis now often uses oxides and nitrates to improve purity and performance. What's more, YBCO's superconducting properties are closely related to its oxygen content - only when the oxygen content is within a certain range, the material will exhibit superconductivity.
The structure of YBCO is a defective perovskite structure, in which the arrangement of the CuO2 layer and CuO4 units is an important factor in showing superconductivity.
The peculiarity of this structure is that the lack of oxygen affects its electrical conductivity and therefore renders the material unable to superconduct. Therefore, controlling the proportion of oxygen is critical to improving superconducting properties.
Application prospects of YBCO
The potential application of YBCO in the field of science and technology is undoubtedly one of the driving forces of its research. For example, superconducting materials have shown value in magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic levitation technology, and Josephson junctions. However, YBCO still faces several challenges in practical applications.
The YBCO material’s grain boundaries affect its critical current density, making it perform poorly in polycrystalline form.
In addition, the brittleness of YBCO makes it difficult to make superconducting wires. Therefore, through special processes, such as depositing YBCO on flexible metal strips, scientists hope to break through these limitations.
Thinking about the future
Gloably leading companies and researchers are exploring innovative techniques like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and other methods to enhance the scalability of YBCO production. These transformations could redefine its usability and economic feasibility in various industries.
The changes in YBCO technology in the future seem to be unstoppable, driving its new applications in energy production.
With the continuous development and application of YBCO, it will be worthwhile for the scientific community and industry to overcome these technical challenges while making technological breakthroughs to achieve a more efficient energy system to welcome the new energy era in the future. A topic for deep thought?
