Modified ELR Films for High-Temperature Superconductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-temperature superconducting materials require cooling systems with low-boiling liquids, such as liquid nitrogen, which increase implementation costs and hinder widespread commercial and consumer use due to their operational limitations at very low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Modifying existing extremely low resistance (ELR) films by layering modifying materials like chromium, copper, bismuth, cobalt, vanadium, titanium, or selenium onto ELR materials to enhance their operating characteristics, allowing them to function at higher temperatures with improved charge carrying capacity and magnetic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional high temperature superconducting materials are used, then they can operate at higher temperatures compared to traditional superconductors, but they still require cooling systems with low-boiling liquids like liquid nitrogen which increase implementation costs and limit widespread use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition and crystalline structure of superconducting materials through doping with elements like iron, nickel, and cobalt. These compositional parameter changes enable the material to maintain superconducting properties at higher temperatures, potentially eliminating the need for liquid nitrogen cooling systems and thereby reducing device complexity and implementation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by creating multi-element superconducting compounds such as iron-based superconductors (e.g., LaOFeAs) and nickel-based perovskites. These composite materials combine multiple elements with complementary properties to achieve high-temperature superconductivity without requiring complex cooling infrastructure, thus resolving the contradiction between operating temperature and cooling system complexity.
2Temperature
If conventional high temperature superconducting materials are used, then they can achieve higher operating temperatures, but implementation costs increase due to required cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explores using air-stable superconducting materials that do not require liquid nitrogen cooling, effectively replacing the expensive and complex cooling infrastructure with simpler, more economical solutions. The focus on materials that can operate without cryogenic cooling systems directly addresses the high implementation costs associated with conventional HTS materials.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical composition parameters of superconducting materials through doping and alloying, the patent aims to discover materials with higher critical temperatures that eliminate the need for expensive cooling systems, thereby reducing overall implementation costs while maintaining or improving operating temperature performance.
3Quantity of substance
If existing ELR films are used without modification, then they have simpler structure and fabrication, but they operate with limited charge carrying capacity and magnetic properties at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing dopant atoms at specific lattice positions within the superconducting material structure. Elements like iron, nickel, and cobalt are incorporated into specific crystallographic sites to locally enhance charge carrier density and improve magnetic properties, thereby increasing charge carrying capacity without requiring complex overall film structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of ELR films through controlled doping with transition metals. These parameter changes alter the electronic structure and carrier concentration, enabling the films to achieve higher charge carrying capacities and improved magnetic properties while maintaining relatively simple fabrication processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified ELR films demonstrate improved operational characteristics, including the ability to maintain an ELR state at higher temperatures, increased charge carrying capacity, and enhanced magnetic properties, reducing the need for costly cooling systems and expanding their practical applications.
Implementation Method 1
layering a modifying material onto an appropriate surface of an ELR film to create a modified ELR film
Implementation Method 2
ELR films with improved operating characteristics; mechanisms for modifying known ELR films so that the modified ELR films operate with improved operating characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
Operational characteristics of an extremely low resistance (“ELR”) film comprised of an ELR material may be improved by depositing a modifying material onto appropriate surfaces of the ELR film to create a modified ELR film. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR film may be in the form of a “c-film.” In some implementations of the invention, the ELR film may be in the form of an “a-b film,” an “a-film” or a “b-film.” The modified ELR film has improved operational characteristics over the ELR film alone or without the modifying material. Such operational characteristics may include operating in an ELR state at increased temperatures, carrying additional electrical charge, operating with improved magnetic properties, operating with improved mechanic properties or other improved operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR material is a mixed-valence copper-oxide perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.