Arab Academy for Science & Technology & Maritime Transport

Collage of Engineering and Technology

Smart Village Campus

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

EC333

Electronic Materials

Super Conductors

Term: 6th

Lecturer Name Dr. Ashraf Wahba/ T.A Mai

Mohamed
Student Name Seif eldeen khaled
Registration Number 20107974
 Marks

What is a conductor?
Conductors are materials that allow the flow of electric current
with minimal resistance. Metals, such as copper and aluminum, are
excellent conductors of electricity due to their high number of free
electrons. These free electrons can move freely through the metal
lattice, allowing the flow of electric current.

In practical applications, conductors are used in electrical wiring,

power transmission lines, and electronic components. Copper is
commonly used in electrical wiring due to its excellent
conductivity and low cost.

What is semi-conductor?
Semiconductors are materials that have properties between
conductors and insulators. They can conduct electricity under
certain conditions, but their conductivity can be easily manipulated
by adding impurities or applying an electric field. Silicon and
germanium are the most commonly used semiconductors in
electronics.

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Semiconductors are used in electronic devices such as transistors,
diodes, and integrated circuits. They are also used in solar cells,
which convert sunlight into electricity.A wide range of useful
features that semiconductor devices may have include changeable
resistance, the ability to transmit current more freely in one way
than the other, and sensitivity to heat or light. Devices
manufactured from semiconductors can be used for amplification,
switching, and energy conversion because the electrical
characteristics of a semiconductor material may be modified by
doping, the application of electrical fields, or light.

What are super conductors?

A substance that reaches superconductivity, a state of matter in
which magnetic forces cannot penetrate and there is no electrical
resistance, is referred to as a superconductor. In a superconductor,
an electric current can last forever.

Typically, superconductivity can only be reached at extremely low

temperatures. From MRI equipment to ultra-fast maglev trains that
employ magnets to elevate the trains off the track to decrease
friction, superconductors are used in a wide range of daily
applications. Superconductors that operate at greater temperatures

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are currently being looked after by researchers in an effort to
transform energy storage and transportation.

History of super conductors:

Some materials exhibit the superconductivity phenomenon at
specific temperatures, which causes magnetic fields and electrical
resistance to disappear. Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, a Dutch
researcher, made the first known discovery of superconductivity in
mercury in 1911. The superconductivity hypothesis has changed
since then as further superconducting materials have been
discovered. These issues are still being intensively investigated by
condensed matter physics.

Applications of super conductors:

Superconductors have numerous potential applications in various
fields due to their unique properties such as zero electrical
resistance, perfect diamagnetism, and high magnetic field strength.
Here are some of the most promising applications of
superconductors:

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Superconducting magnets

are used in MRI machines to create high-resolution images of the
human body. The strong magnetic fields generated by these
magnets allow for detailed imaging of soft tissues and organs.

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2. Power transmission: Superconducting cables can transmit
electricity with virtually no loss, making them ideal for long-
distance power transmission. This could lead to significant energy
savings and a reduction in carbon emissions.

3. Particle accelerators: Superconducting magnets are used in

particle accelerators to steer and focus particle beams. The high
magnetic field strength of superconductors allows for precise
control of the particle beams.

4. Levitation: Superconductors can levitate in a magnetic field,

making them ideal for high-speed trains and other transportation
applications. Maglev trains that use superconducting magnets can
travel at speeds of up to 600 km/h.

5. Energy storage: Superconducting magnetic energy storage

(SMES) systems can store large amounts of energy in a small
space. This technology could be used to store excess energy from
renewable sources such as wind and solar power.

6. Electric motors: Superconducting motors can be more efficient

than traditional motors due to their zero electrical resistance. They

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are also smaller and lighter, making them ideal for use in electric
vehicles and other applications.

7. Quantum computing: Superconducting qubits are used in

quantum computers to perform calculations that are impossible
with classical computers. The zero electrical resistance and perfect
diamagnetism of superconductors make them ideal for this
application.

Graph between temperature and resistivity of

superconductors:

Presently, type I superconductors have critical temperatures

between 0.000325 °K and 7.8 °K.
The graph of it is a hyperbolic curve. Also, resistivity and
temperature also cannot be equal to zero or negative.

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 Effect of magnetic field on superconductors:
The effect of a magnetic field on superconductors depends on the
type of superconductor and the strength of the magnetic field.
Superconductors can be classified into two types based on their
behavior in a magnetic field: Type I and Type II.

Type I superconductors completely expel magnetic fields from

their interior, and all magnetic flux lines enter the surrounding
material. This is known as the Meissner effect, and it occurs when
the magnetic field is below a certain critical value called the
critical magnetic field (Hc). Above the critical magnetic field, the
superconductor loses its superconducting properties and becomes a
normal conductor.

Type II superconductors, on the other hand, can partially or

completely trap magnetic fields within their interior. This is known
as the mixed state, and it occurs when the magnetic field is
between the lower critical field (Hc1) and the upper critical field
(Hc2). In this state, the superconductor is neither completely
superconducting nor completely normal, and it exhibits a range of
magnetic properties.

Why is ceramic used in superconductivity?

Ceramic materials are used in high-temperature superconductivity
because they have a unique crystal structure that allows for strong
electron pairing, which is necessary for superconductivity. These

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materials are also called high-temperature superconductors because
they can achieve superconductivity at temperatures much higher
than traditional superconductors, which require extremely low
temperatures close to absolute zero.

The crystal structure of ceramic materials is composed of layers of

copper oxide separated by layers of other elements. These copper
oxide layers are responsible for the strong electron pairing, which
is necessary for superconductivity. The exact mechanism of
electron pairing in ceramic superconductors is still not fully
understood, but it is believed to be related to the presence of
oxygen vacancies in the crystal structure.

Another advantage of ceramic superconductors is that they are

more flexible and easier to manufacture than traditional
superconductors, which are typically made of metals such as
niobium. This flexibility allows for the creation of thin films and
other complex shapes, which is important for many applications of
superconductivity.

Despite their many advantages, ceramic superconductors are still

expensive and difficult to produce, limiting their widespread use.
However, ongoing research into new materials and manufacturing
techniques is expected to lead to more practical and affordable
ceramic superconductors in the future.

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