Superconducting material and method of synthesis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a superconducting material, and in particular to a magnesium borate superconductor which is doped with a silicon carbide or titanium carbide dopant.

1 . A superconducting material having a formula MgB x Si y C z , where 
 X is a number in the range between 0 to 2,    Y is a number in the range between 0 to 1,    Z is a number in the range of 0 to 1, and    wherein the sum of X, Y and Z is greater than or equal to 2.    
     
     
         2 . The superconducting material in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein X is a number in the range between 1 and 2, Y is a number in the range between 0.05 and 0.5, and Z is a number in the range between 0.1 and 0.3.  
     
     
         3 . A superconducting material in accordance with  claim 1 , where X is in the range of 1.2 to 1.8, Y is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3, and Z is in the range 0.1 to 0.3.  
     
     
         4 . A superconductor incorporating the superconducting material of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . A method of synthesising the superconducting material of  claim 1  comprising the step of utilising starting materials Mg, B, Si and C.  
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the starting materials are powders.  
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the powders consist of nanoparticles.  
     
     
         8 . A method of synthesising the superconducting material of  claim 1 , comprising the a step of utilising starting materials Mg, B and SiC.  
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the starting materials are powders.  
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the powders consist of nanoparticles.  
     
     
         11 . A method of synthesising the superconducting material of  claim 1 , comprising the step of utilising starting materials MgB 2  and SiC.  
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the starting materials are powders.  
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the powders consist of nanoparticles.  
     
     
         14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A superconducting material having formula MgB x Ti y C z . wherein X is a number in the range of 0 to 2 and greater than 0, Y is a number in the range of 0 to 1 and Z is a number in the range of 0 to 1, and wherein the sum of X, Y and Z is greater than or equal to 2.  
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a material capable of finctioning as a superconductor, comprising the steps of 
 mixing elemental magnesium and elemental boron with an amount of one or more of the group consisting of silicon carbide and titanium carbide, and    heating mixture to sinter the mixture into a material capable of functioning as a superconductor.    
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a material capable of operating as a superconductor, comprising the steps of 
 mixing elemental magnesium and elemental boron with an amount of one or more of the group consisting of elemental silicon, elemental carbon and elemental titanium, and    heating mixture to sinter the mixture into a material capable of functioning as a superconductor.    
     
     
         21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature in the range between 650° C. and 2000° C.  
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature in the range of 900-950° C.  
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the elements are provided as powders.  
     
     
         24 . A method in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the powders consist of nanoparticles.  
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the powders are groove-rolled into a tube manufactured from a material of one or more of the group consisting of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and stainless steel prior to heating the mixture.  
     
     
         26 . A method in accordance with  claim 20 , comprising the further step of cooling the resultant material to the temperature of liquid nitrogen, to render the material capable of superconducting.  
     
     
         27 . The method of synthesizing the superconducting material of  claim 1 , comprising a step of utilizing starting materials MgB 2 , Si and C.  
     
     
         28 . The method in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the starting materials are powders.  
     
     
         29 . The method in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the powders consist of nanoparticles.