Plasma spray deposition technology can be used to process coatings and free-standing forms of high temperature superconducting oxides. While this versatile technique holds high potential, it nonetheless has deficiencies, since the coating as sprayed does not display a superconducting transition but, rather, must be subjected to a relatively high temperature anneal to replace the oxygen that was lost during the plasma spray process. This post-spray anneal complicates the fabrication process and severely limits the substrate material that can be employed to fabricate a device. In this project a plasma spray device will be developed that can operate with an oxygen plasma. With conventional plasma guns this is not possible because an oxygen-bearing plasma would destroy the electrodes. Using a specially configured plasma gun, capable of establishing an oxygen-rich plasma environment, this project will form as-sprayed deposits having the proper oxygen content to enable high critical temperature (Tc) behavior. No post-spray anneal would be required, which will permit the coating of a wide range of substrate materials.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: It will be possible by this technique to form high Tc superconductors onto a wide range of substrate materials and shapes. The production of cables, tapes, and complex shapes will greatly enhance the potential applicability of these materials.Topic 9: High Temperature Superconducting Materials: Processing and Devices
