There is a need for small efficient superconducting generators for several military programs supported by BMDO -THADD, DEW, and the Navy's superconducting motor programs. The development of high-temperature superconductors based on YBCO on a textured metal substrate will make a dramatic impact on components for these systems. On short lengths these conductors have demonstrated high current densities of over 1 million amps/cm2 at 77 K in self field. This level of performance will result in higher operating temperatures and efficiencies, plus reduction in size and weight for the system components such as generators, motors, and power supplies. The primary focus of this proposal is to develop long-length textured YBCO layers on textured buffered metal substrates for high temperature superconductors. During this Phase I we will investigate several YBCO chemical solution routes to form the YBCO layers. These YBCO layers will be applied using low cost reel-to-reel chemical solution processes without any vacuum processing.Anticipated Benefits/Commercial Applications: The commercial benefit of this proposal is to develop and comercialize low cost, long-length textured YBCO superconductors and make them available for highly efficient and compact generators, motors, MRI, SMES, fault current limiters, and transmission cables.
