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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R86829/01
Title: Phase Stability and Development of Doped (RE)BCO Superconductors for Power Applications
Principal Investigator: Cardwell, Professor DA
Other Investigators:
Campbell, Professor AM
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Advanced Ceramics Ltd Elite Thermal Systems Ltd Johnson Matthey
Magnex Scientific Ltd Merck Ltd Urenco
Department: Engineering
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 2002 Ends: 31 March 2005 Value (£): 265,743
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Electric Motor & Drive Systems Energy Storage
Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Bulk high temperature RE-123 superconductors have considerable potential to trap high magnetic fields for a variety of applications, which offer distinct improvements over currently available technologies, such as flywheel energy storage, low loss magnetic bearings and high resolution MRI . The project is to develop both the basic materials science and the production technology of (RE)BCO superconducting bulk oxides which exhibit enhanced trapped magnetic field, specifically for application in engineering devices. Improved field trapping ability will be achieved by enhancing the magnitude of the critical current density in these materials and by increasing the length scale over which it flows. The former will be achieved in part by developing an effective joining technology and the latter by the addition of dopants to various (RE)BCO systems to modify either their microstructure or their charge carrier density. In both cases, precise control of the bulk crystal microstructure is essential for the growth of large RE123 crystals, under various conditions of solid solution formation. We propose initially to establish the high temperature phase relationships in these materials, which in general have not been studied to date, and subsequently to understand the growth mechanisms of doped, solid solution forming RE-123 phases. From these fundamental studies, an effective joining process and seeded melt-growth technology will be derived to enable the fabrication of large (RE)BCO superconductors with enhanced magnetic field trapping abilities for emerging engineering devices.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cam.ac.uk