An oxide superconductor of an embodiment includes an oxide superconducting layer including a first superconducting region containing barium, copper, and a first rare earth element, having a continuous perovskite structure, and extending in a first direction, a second superconducting region containing barium, copper, and a second rare earth element, having a continuous perovskite structure, and extending in the first direction, and a non-superconducting region disposed between the first and the second superconducting region, containing praseodymium, barium, copper, and a third rare earth element, a ratio of the number of atoms of the praseodymium to a sum of the number of atoms of the third rare earth element and the number of atoms of the praseodymium which is 20% or more, having a continuous perovskite structure continuous with the perovskite structure of the first superconducting region and the perovskite structure of the second superconducting region, and extending in the first direction.

A method of forming a superconductor includes exposing a layer disposed on a substrate to an oxygen ambient, and selectively annealing a portion of the layer to form a superconducting region within the layer.

A superconductor device includes a high superconductivity transition temperature enhanced from the raw material transition temperature. The superconductor device includes a matrix material and a core material. The enhancing matrix material and the core material together create a system of strongly coupled carriers. A plurality of low-dimensional conductive features can be embedded in the matrix. The low-dimensional conductive features (e.g., nanowires or nanoparticles) can be conductors or superconductors. An interaction between electrons of the low-dimensional conductive features and the enhancing matrix material can promote excitations that increase a superconductivity transition temperature of the superconductor device.

A method of forming a superconductor includes exposing a layer disposed on a substrate to an oxygen ambient, and selectively annealing a portion of the layer to form a superconducting region within the layer.

Operational characteristics of an high temperature superconducting (HTS) film comprised of an HTS material may be improved by depositing a modifying material onto appropriate surfaces of the HTS film to create a modified HTS film. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of a c-film. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of an a-b film, an a-film or a b-film. The modified HTS film has improved operational characteristics over the HTS film alone or without the modifying material. Such operational characteristics may include operating in a superconducting state at increased temperatures, carrying additional electrical charge, operating with improved magnetic properties, operating with improved mechanic properties or other improved operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS material is a mixed-valence copper-oxide perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.

A method of forming a superconductor includes exposing a layer disposed on a substrate to an oxygen ambient, and selectively annealing a portion of the layer to form a superconducting region within the layer.

Operational characteristics of an high temperature superconducting (HTS) film comprised of an HTS material may be improved by depositing a modifying material onto appropriate surfaces of the HTS film to create a modified HTS film. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of a c-film. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS film may be in the form of an a-b film, an a-film or a b-film. The modified HTS film has improved operational characteristics over the HTS film alone or without the modifying material. Such operational characteristics may include operating in a superconducting state at increased temperatures, carrying additional electrical charge, operating with improved magnetic properties, operating with improved mechanic properties or other improved operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the HTS material is a mixed-valence copper-oxide perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium.

Electrical, mechanical, computing, and/or other devices that include components formed of extremely low resistance (ELR) materials, including, but not limited to, modified ELR materials, layered ELR materials, and new ELR materials, are described.

An oxide superconductor of an embodiment includes an oxide superconducting layer including a first superconducting region containing barium, copper, and a first rare earth element, having a continuous perovskite structure, and extending in a first direction, a second superconducting region containing barium, copper, and a second rare earth element, haying a continuous perovskite structure, and extending in the first direction, and a non-superconducting region disposed between the first and the second superconducting region, containing praseodymium, barium, copper, and a third rare earth element, a ratio of the number of atoms of the praseodymium to a sum of the number of atoms of the third rare earth element and the number of atoms of the praseodymium which is 20% or more, having a continuous perovskite structure continuous with the perovskite structure of the first superconducting region and the perovskite structure of the second superconducting region, and extending in the first direction.

A connection structure for a superconducting layer according to an embodiment includes a first superconducting layer; a second superconducting layer; and a connection layer disposed between the first superconducting layer and the second superconducting layer, the connection layer including crystal grains containing a rare earth element (RE), barium (Ba), copper (Cu), and oxygen (O), the crystal grains having a grain size distribution including a bimodal distribution. The bimodal distribution includes a first distribution including a first peak and a second distribution including a second peak. A first grain size corresponding to the first peak is larger than a second grain size corresponding to the second peak. Among the crystal grains, crystal grains having a grain size corresponding to the first distribution include a crystal grain having a plate shape or a flat shape.