The present invention is in the field of processes for the production of nanoparticles. It relates to a process for the preparation of nanoparticles comprising heating a water-free solution containing (a) a metal-organic compound containing an alkaline earth metal and a group 4 metal, and (b) a stabilizer to at least 150 C. for at least 30 minutes.

The present invention has as its problem the provision of a bulk oxide superconductor which has a high workability and high critical current density characteristic regardless of the external conditions and solves the problem by limiting the amount of addition of Ag to 5 mass % or less, using the QMG method to produce a bulk superconductor and thereby obtain a single crystal-like bulk superconductor of a structure with parts where Ag particles are present and parts where Ag particles are not present made to adjoin each other.

The present invention is in the field of nanoparticles, their preparation and their use as pinning centers in superconductors. In particular the present invention relates to nanoparticles comprising an oxide of Sr, Ba, Y, La, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, or Ta, wherein the nanoparticles have a weight average diameter of 1 to 30 nm and wherein an organic compound of general formula (I), (II) or (III) or an organic compound containing at least two carboxylic acid groups on the surface of the nanoparticles (I) (II) (III) wherein a is 0 to 5, b and c are independent of each other 1 to 14, n is 1 to 5, f is 0 to 5, p and q are independent of each other 1 to 14, and e and f are independent of each other 0 to 12. ##STR00001##

An oxide superconducting wire includes a superconducting layer formed disposed on a substrate. The superconducting layer includes a structure in which artificial pin rods having different lengths dispersed on a plane parallel to a substrate surface of the substrate. A degree of dispersion in length of the artificial pin rods in the plane parallel to the substrate surface is greater than or equal to 5 mm.

According to an embodiment, a superconductor includes a base member, and a superconducting layer provided on the base member. The superconducting Layer has a first surface on the base member side, and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface. The lattice constant of the base member substantially matches the lattice constant of the superconducting layer. The superconducting layer includes REA.sub.1-xREB.sub.xBa.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.7-z. The x is not less than 0.01 and not more than 0.40. The z is not less than 0.02 and not more than 0.20. The REA includes at least one of Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, or Lu. The REB includes at least one of Nd or Sm. The superconducting layer includes a first surface-side region including a portion of the first surface. The first surface-side region includes a first region having an orientation property, and a second region.

A superconductor tape and method for manufacturing, measuring, monitoring, and controlling same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a superconductor tape which includes a superconductor film overlying a buffer layer which overlies a substrate. In one embodiment, the superconductor film is defined as having a c-axis lattice constant higher than 11.74 Angstroms. In another embodiment, the superconductor film comprises BaMO.sub.3, where M=Zr, Sn, Ta, Nb, Hf, or Ce, and which has a (101) peak of BaMO.sub.3 elongated along an axis that is between 60? to 90? from an axis of the (001) peaks of the superconductor film. These and other embodiments achieve well-aligned nanocolumnar defects and thus a high lift factor, which can result in superior critical current performance of the tape in, for example, high magnetic fields.

A superconductor tape and method for manufacturing, measuring, monitoring, and controlling same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a superconductor tape which includes a superconductor film overlying a buffer layer which overlies a substrate. In one embodiment, the superconductor film is defined as having a c-axis lattice constant higher than 11.74 Angstroms. In another embodiment, the superconductor film comprises BaMO.sub.3, where M=Zr, Sn, Ta, Nb, Hf, or Ce, and which has a (101) peak of BaMO.sub.3 elongated along an axis that is between 60? to 90? from an axis of the (001) peaks of the superconductor film. These and other embodiments achieve well-aligned nanocolumnar defects and thus a high lift factor, which can result in superior critical current performance of the tape in, for example, high magnetic fields.

A method for producing a long length high temperature superconductor wire, includes providing a substrate, having a surface with a length of at least 50 meters and a width. The surface supports a biaxially textured high temperature superconducting layer and the biaxially textured high temperature superconducting layer has a length and a width corresponding to the length and width of the surface of the substrate. The method includes irradiating the biaxially textured high temperature superconductor layer with an ion beam impinging uniformly along the length and across the width of the biaxially textured high temperature superconductor layer to produce a uniform distribution of pinning microstructures in the biaxially textured high temperature superconductor layer.

The present invention is in the field of processes for the production of tantalum oxide particles. In particular the present invention relates to a process for producing crystalline tantalum oxide nanoparticles comprising heating a water-free solution containing (a) a tantalum alkoxide, (b) an acid, and (c) a solvent.

A superconducting material includes YBa.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.7-? and a nano-structured, preferably nanowires, WO.sub.3 dopant in a range of from 0.01 to 3.0 wt. %, preferably 0.075 to 0.2 wt. %, based on total material weight. Methods of making the superconductor may preferably avoid solvents and pursue solid-state synthesis employing Y, Ba, and/or Cu oxides and/or carbonates.