Superconductive materials have large perspectives for applying energy, medical care and transport due to their zero resistance and their complete magnetic resistance. Yttrium barium copper oxygen (YBCO) is a high temperature superconductor and has attracted a lot of attention to its excellent superconductive performance at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77K).
However, traditional YBCO superconductors are faced with a key challenge in the manufacturing process: although the monocrystalline structure has excellent electrical properties, its difficulty and its treatment difficulty limit the complexity of its design design; While polycrystal structures can reach complex forms by 3D printing, their grain limit defects considerably reduce current loading capacity.
However, traditional YBCO superconductors are faced with a key challenge in the manufacturing process: although the monocrystalline structure has excellent electrical properties, its difficulty and its treatment difficulty limit the complexity of its design design; While polycrystal structures can reach complex forms by 3D printing, their grain limit defects considerably reduce current loading capacity.
Ybacuo superconducting suspension disc – 35 mm⌀, 8 mm high Ybco MINCE Thermal insulation layer and covers several protective layers
According to the latest understanding of the Resource Library, a research team from the Northwestern University Department of Science and Engineering and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory has developed an innovative 3D printing method to successfully manufacture the technology of YBCO Superconductors (Mex) of high performance 3D technology (Mex) (Mex). ceramics (Mex).
The study was published on February 24 in the journal Nature Communications.paperThe title is “Monocrystaling YBCO superconductor in my only crystal》。This technology should improve the performance of superconductors and reduce the manufacturing cost of superconductive equipment.
Ceramic superconductors limits
Ceramic copper cubes are high -temperature common superconductors because they operate at liquid nitrogen temperatures, which are cheaper and easier to use than metal superconductors at low temperature. However, the fragility of ceramic materials limits the diversity of their form conceptions. “The fragility of these materials prevents us from creating objects of complex forms that tend to optimize energy efficiency,” said Professor Dunand.
Technological breakthrough in 3D monocrystal 3D printing
The research team has developed a new 3D printing method to successfully manufacture monocrystalline YBCO superconductors. Ybco is a crystalline compound with high temperature superconductivity. Its superconductive transition temperature is higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. It is the first material that has this characteristic.
Figure 1: Additive and sintering ways
The research team first used the precursor powder available in the trade to prepare ink, then injected the ink into a syringe and used a 3D printing technology to create a microladice in Ybco polycristalline or another complex geometry. Thanks to the fusion growth method, the 3D printed material is converted into a monocrystalline structure on the printing component.
Figure 2: Monocrystalline growth
Traditionally, bulk superconductors are pressed by molds to form simple shapes, then the powder is merged by sintering or heating. The search team used inK containing YBCO powder to create complex shapes thanks to 3D printing technology for sintering.
In addition, researchers have also successfully removed the grain seals in the material – of tiny defects of the crystalline structure, which reduces the electrical and thermal conductivity of the material, thus improving the efficiency of the superconductive current.
Experimental results and application potential
The tests show that the current transport capacity of monocrystallized YBCO at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (77K) is 66 times that of the polycrystalline version and 180 times higher at 10k. Although its operating temperature is slightly lower than the theoretical value of 93K due to the impurities traces introduced during treatment, it remains between 88 and 89.5k.
Figure 3: Superconductive characteristics
The research team has also found that Yâ‚‚bacuoâ‚… particles (Y211) play an integrated stable frame during high temperature treatment, preventing the collapse or deformation of the material. This discovery is supported by the theory of permeation, explaining how the networks of solid particles maintain global structural stability when the material is partially liquefed.
Figure 4: 3D printed object with complex structure
To demonstrate the practicality of the method, the 3D research team has printed a variety of complex superconductive structures, including suspended loop coils, magnetic armored tubes and origami -inspiration designs. These structures are almost impossible to manufacture under traditional monocrystalline growth technology, and their potential applications cover the fields of particle accelerators, synchronous radiation devices and the microwave cavity for research on black matter trees.
Other advances in the superconductive 3D printing
Northwestern University’s research is one of the last achievements in the field of superconductive 3D printing. In 2018, CERN selected simmer additive software to optimize selective laser fusion printing (SLM), which has improved the accuracy of superconducting magnets and radiofrequency components composed of expensive materials such as niobium by simulated laser powder fusion processes (PBF).
Professor Daniel Creedon of Melbourne University has also successfully demonstrated that 3D printing can create a superconductive microwave cavity with the same electrical properties as traditional manufacturing methods. These cavities play a key role in particle accelerators and precision measurement systems.
Northwestern University’s research is one of the last achievements in the field of superconductive 3D printing. In 2018, CERN selected simmer additive software to optimize selective laser fusion printing (SLM), which has improved the accuracy of superconducting magnets and radiofrequency components composed of expensive materials such as niobium by simulated laser powder fusion processes (PBF).
Professor Daniel Creedon of Melbourne University has also successfully demonstrated that 3D printing can create a superconductive microwave cavity with the same electrical properties as traditional manufacturing methods. These cavities play a key role in particle accelerators and precision measurement systems.
Future research department
Despite significant progress in the method, there are still gaps such as the dislocation of crystalline orientation, local pores and microfissances formed during oxidation. The research team plans to mitigate the impact of these faults on mechanical and superconductive performance by adding money (GA) and will be explored more in future research.
In addition, the research team believes that this technology is suitable not only to superconductors, but also to the materials of piezoelectric semiconductors, thermoelectric, photovoltaic and organic, opening up new possibilities for energy harvest, electronics and advanced development of materials.
In addition, the research team believes that this technology is suitable not only to superconductors, but also to the materials of piezoelectric semiconductors, thermoelectric, photovoltaic and organic, opening up new possibilities for energy harvest, electronics and advanced development of materials.
