Perforated Graphene Superconductor for Room Temperature Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Type II superconductors require cryogenic temperatures and are not suitable for making flexible wires or thin films, limiting their practical applications, as they are typically rigid and operate poorly in strong magnetic fields and high electrical currents.
Innovation Solution
A Type II superconductor is created by perforating graphene and coating it with an aliphatic hydrocarbon or similar activating material, which introduces non-conducting regions for magnetic field penetration without disrupting superconductivity, allowing operation above room temperature and in strong magnetic fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If prior art Type II superconductors are used, then they can function in strong magnetic fields, but they require cryogenic temperatures and are rigid materials with complex crystalline structures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the carbonaceous material by introducing perforations with specific size ranges (5-50 nm diameter) and controlling their distribution, thereby transforming the material from requiring cryogenic temperatures to operating above room temperature while maintaining Type II superconductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure combining perforated carbonaceous material with specific pore characteristics and activating materials, resulting in a new class of Type II superconductors that operate at higher temperatures without requiring complex crystalline structures
2Ease of operation
If prior art Type II superconductors are used, then they can retain superconductivity in strong magnetic fields, but they are rigid and not suitable for making flexible wires or thin films
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses carbonaceous materials (graphite, graphene) that can be manufactured as flexible thin films and wires, coated with activating materials to induce superconductivity, thereby achieving both flexibility and superconductivity maintenance in strong magnetic fields
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a controlled porous structure with non-conducting pores of specific size and distribution in the carbonaceous material, which allows magnetic field penetration while maintaining superconductivity and enabling flexible configurations
3Power
If Type I superconductors are used, then they can operate above room temperature as thin films, but they are limited in electrical current capacity due to critical field thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the carbonaceous material structure by introducing distributed perforations that create multiple non-conducting regions, allowing magnetic field lines to penetrate through pores while maintaining superconducting regions, thereby increasing current capacity above critical field thresholds
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a porous structure with carefully controlled pore size (5-50 nm) and distribution to enable Type II superconductivity, allowing the material to operate above room temperature while withstanding strong magnetic fields generated by high electrical currents
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 solution enables flexible, non-metallic Type II superconductors that maintain superconductivity above room temperature and in strong magnetic fields, with adjustable critical temperatures and magnetic fields, suitable for various applications including medical devices, power transmission, and compact computer memory.
Implementation Method 1
Type II superconductors that operate above room temperature
Implementation Method 2
the aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid dampens the out-of-plane thermal vibrations enough to prevent disrupting the Cooper-pairs (i.e., loosely bound pairs of electrons moving with the same speed with opposite spins)
Implementation Method 3
the aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid dampens the out-of-plane thermal vibrations enough to prevent disrupting the Cooper-pairs
Implementation Method 4
retain their superconductivity in the presence of strong magnetic fields by the presence of non-conducting/non-superconducting regions or 'pores' through which a magnetic field line can penetrate without destroying the superconductivity of the region surrounding the 'pore'
Data Source
AI summary
A Type II superconductor includes a perforated carbonaceous material with an activating material on at least one surface. The activating material a non-polar liquid that does not incorporate Pi-bonding in its structure. The superconductor is manufactured by perforating a carbonaceous material to produce voids and coating at least one surface of the carbonaceous material with the activating material. A superconductive cable includes wires with a perforated carbonaceous material wetted with the activating material on a non-conductive substrate interspersed with non-conducting spacers and surrounded by an insulation layer. The superconductor conducts current at room temperature and above.