Patent ID: 6219901
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: C04B,H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for preparing an oxide superconductor composite, comprising:(i) preparing a precursor composite comprising,(a) a primary alloy phase comprising a portion of the metallic constituent elements of an oxide superconductor and noble metal, said primary phase deficient in copper; and(b) a secondary phase comprising copper, said secondary phase positioned in intimate contact with the primary alloy phase to permit exchange of elements between the phases,wherein the constituent elements of the primary alloy phase and the copper of the secondary phase are, in combination, present in an amount sufficient to form the oxide superconductor;(ii) heating the composite under a first oxygen partial pressure and temperature selected to diffuse copper of the secondary phase into the region occupied by the primary alloy phase, to diffuse the noble metal of the primary alloy phase into the region occupied by the secondary phase and to convert the constituent metallic elements of the alloy phase into metal oxides, so that a metal oxide phase in intimate contact with a secondary phase, said secondary phase comprised substantially of noble metal, is obtained; and(iii) heating the metal oxide/noble metal composite at a second selected oxygen partial pressure and temperature to form an oxide superconductor/noble metal composite.