Metal oxide material

Abstract: Provided is a metal oxide material represented by the composition formula of Ln a Sr b Cu 3-x M x O c , where 2.7 ≦ a + b ≦ 3.3; 0.8 ≦ a ≦ 1.2; 6 ≦ c ≦ 9; and 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.7, Ln is at least one element selected from the group of elements of Y and lanthanoids or an atomic group consisting of said elements, and M is at least one element selected from the group of elements of Ti, V, Ga, Ge, Mo, W and Re or an atomic group consisting of said elements.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel metal oxide material which exhibits superconductivity. In particular, the present invention relates to a metal oxide material that is useful in various application fields of superconductivity such as sensors, electronic devices, computers, medical apparatus, magnets, power transmission lines, energy instruments, and voltage standards. The metal oxide material of the present invention is especially effective when used as a bulk material. The metal oxide material of the present invention can be used in a state of junction or dispersion with another oxide or a metal. Related Background Art Copper-containing oxide superconductors which have been discovered in succession have critical temperatures of superconductivity (Tc) surpassing that of known metal-type superconductors such as niobium compounds. Therefore, applications thereof are intended in various fields. The known copper containing oxide superconductors include those of Bi-system, Tl-system, Pb-system, Y-system, and La-system. As a kind of the copper-containing oxide superconductors, those composed of Sr, Ln (Y or a lanthanoid element), Cu and oxygen having a composition of YSr 2 Cu 3 O y are disclosed in papers of Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 26, L804 (1987); Solid State Communication, Vol. 63, 535 (1987); and Preprint for Autumnal Meeting of Japan Physical Society, Third Part, page 243, [2p-PS-30]. Further, another superconductor having the composition YSr 2 Cu 3-x MO y (M = Al, Fe, Co, or Pb, and 0.4 ≦ x ≦ 1.0) is disclosed in Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 1, 331 (1989). The aforementioned Bi-system, Tl-system, and Pb-system of superconductors have undesirably a specific gravity of as high as from 7 to 8 g/cm 3 , so that a bulk material (for example, a shield material) made therefrom inevitably becomes weighty in its entirety, disadvantageously. A known Sr-based 123-phase material, which has a lower specific gravity than the abovementioned material, has disadvantages of unavoidable contamination by a large amount of impurities, difficulty in the synthesis, and the low Tc (approximately 20 K). For example, the compositions disclosed in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 26, L804 (1987) and Solid State Communication, Vol. 63, 535 (1987) do not give a single phase high-quality sample of YSr 2 Cu 3 O y , but form many impurities such as SrCuO 2 , Sr 2 CuO 3 , Y 2 SrO 4 , Y 2 CuO 5 , SrCu 2 O 2 , and Sr 1.75 Cu 3 O 5.13 , and therefore the product is not practically useful. Thus the synthesis products of the Sr-based 123-phase material contain the superconducting material only at a small content even though the product is satisfactory in its light weight, and are not useful. The sample described in the aforementioned Preprint for Autumnal Meeting of Japan Physical Society, Third Part, page 243 was synthesized by means of a special apparatus employing conditions of 70 Kbar and 1380°C which was not generally available, therefore being unsuitable for practical applications. Furthermore, even with such a special apparatus, the synthesized product exhibited a zero-resistance temperature (the temperature at which the resistance becomes zero) of about 20 K. The material disclosed in Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 1, 331 (1989), which exhibits superconductivity in the case of M = Co or Fe, and has the zero-resistance temperature of as low as 10 K, has a superconductivity volume fraction of about 2 %, thus being unsuitable for a superconducting material. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a metal oxide material as defined in claim 1 of the accompanying claims, and the use of the aforesaid material as a superconductor as defined in claim 5. The above superconducting materials can be synthesized without using a special synthesis apparatus and without employing ultra-high pressure, and they can be made in high quality and with low impurities. They can exhibit a high superconductivity transition temperature and a large superconductivity volume fraction, and can exhibit good characteristics as a superconducting material. Copper oxide superconductors of Bi-system, Tl-system, Pb-system and the aforementioned YBa 2 Cu 3 O Y , which are obtainable stably at present, have an undesirably high specific gravity of 7 to 8 g/cm 3 , so that a bulk material (for example, a shield material) made therefrom is inevitably heavy. The present material has the advantage that it is of lower specific gravity than known copper-oxide superconductors. Furthermore, the present material does not contain a toxic heavy metal in such a large quantity as in the Bi-system, Tl-system, or Pb-system materials, and does not employ a toxic starting material like barium carbonate. A typical Y-system material, YBa 2 Cu 3 O y , is decomposed readily by moisture or water vapour into Y 2 O 3 , BaCO 3 , and CuO, posing a serious problem in practical use thereof and thin film device preparation therefrom. The present material is not sensitive to moisture and water vapour, and has superior endurance. Furthermore, the above YBa 2 Cu 3 O y characteristic deteriorates by liberation of oxygen at a high temperature. For example, the material having the composition of YBa 2 Cu 3 O y at room temperature will lose at 900°C one oxygen in terms of y or 2.4 % by weight. The present material has the advantage that it does not readily release oxygen at a high temperature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 4 shows the data for YSr 2 Cu 3-x Fe x O 7 described in Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 1, 331 (1989). Fig. 1 shows the X-ray diffraction patterns for the Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.85 Re 0.15 O 7.2 prepared in Example 1, employing the CuKα radiation. Fig. 2 shows the temperature dependence of the resistivity of the Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.85 Re 0.15 O 7.2 prepared in Example 1. Fig. 3 shows the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of the Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.85 Re 0.15 O 7.2 prepared in Example 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides a metal oxide material having a specific gravity of as low as 5 to 6 g/cm 3 and exhibiting superconductivity transition temperature of not lower than 20 K, preferably not lower than 25 K, by selecting the composition ratio of the constituting elements. The metal oxide material of the present invention has a structure similar to YSr 2 Cu 3 O y which is synthesizable only at an extra-high pressure. Nevertheless it can be synthesized at a normal atmospheric pressure, and has improved characteristics of a superconductor. This can be achieved by introducing a selected transition metal to the Cu site in an optimum replacement ratio. The present invention provides a metal oxide material having superior characteristics by introducing Ca to the site of Y, Ln, or Sr without employing an oxygen atmosphere of high pressure for calcination. The metal oxide material of the present invention may have any composition within the range described in claim 1. The calcium-substituted metal oxide material of the present invention may have any composition within the range described above. In the present invention, particularly preferred are copper oxide materials having a composition of Ln a Ca b Sr c Cu 3-x M x O d where a + b + c = 3 . A particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = Fe, and 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 1.0. Another particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = Co, and 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 1.0. A still another particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = Ti, and 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 0.5. A further particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = V, and 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. A still further particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = Ge, and 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. A still further particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = Mo, and 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. A still further particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = W, and 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 A still further particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material in which M = Re, and 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. A further particularly preferred superconducting material is the above metal oxide material which has a tetragonal or orthorhombic structure and a lattice constant (c) of not less than 11 Å and not more than 12 Å. A further preferable masterial is a metal oxide material of the abovementioned composition having superconductivity at a temperature of not lower than 20 Kelvin, more preferably 25 Kelvin. The above-described metal oxide material of the present invention may be prepared by any of generally employed methods of heating powdery raw materials to cause reaction and sintering. Examples of such methods are disclosed in Material Research Bulletin, Vol. 8, p. 777 (1973); Solid State Communication, Vol. 17, p. 27 (1975); Zeitschrift fuer Physik, B, Vol. 64, p. 189 (1986); Physical Review Letters, Vol. 58, No. 9, p. 908 (1987); etc. These methods are well known as general methods at present. In case of use for a superconducting substrate in electronic devices or as shielding materials, the metal oxide material of the present invention is effectively prepared also by melting the powdery raw materials at a high temperature by use of a flux and subsequently growing a single crystal. For use for thin film electronic devices or shielding materials, the metal oxide material of the present invention can be formed in a thin film state on a substrate or another superconducting thin film by any of sputtering methods such as high frequency sputtering or magnetron sputtering employing a target containing the invented materials; vapor deposition such as electron beam vapor deposition, MBE and ionized cluster beam; CVD employing gases as the raw materials; and plasma CVD. The copper oxide material of the present invention thus prepared has a superconductivity transition temperature depending on the firing conditions and the raw material composition. In particular, a high superconductivity transition temperature is obtained when the element M is Mo, W, or Re. In this case, the superconductivity transition temperature is increased up to 70 K depending on the kind of the element M and the value of x. Accordingly, the metal oxide of the present invention can be used as a superconductor naturally at the liquid helium temperature, and even with a simple refrigerator. Furthermore, the metal oxide material of the present invention can be supplied at a low price since the raw materials therefor are all inexpensive. The material of the present invention is relatively stable and deteriorates less in the open air. This material is highly safe since a toxic raw material such as a heavy metal is not used. The metal oxide material of the present invention has a specific gravity in the range of from 5 to 6 g/cm 3 , which is less by about 20 to 30 % than existing copper oxide superconductors. This is an advantage in the case where the metal oxide material is employed as a bulk material for shielding or magnet. The metal oxide material of the present invention is not sensitive to moisture or water vapor, which advantageously relaxes the using conditions and broadens the application fields of the product, raising the durability, and stabilizing the surface state in preparation of devices. The metal oxide material of the present invention does not readily release oxygen at a high temperature, which is an advantage for use or synthesis of the material. The Ca-substituted metal oxide material of the present invention is described more specifically by reference to Examples. Examples 1 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 The starting materials used were Y 2 O 3 , SrCO 3 , CaCO 3 , CuO, TiO 2 , V 2 O 5 , GeO 2 , MoO 3 , WO 3 , ReO 3 , Al 2 O 3 , MnO 2 , NiO, Fe 2 O 3 , and Co 2 O 3 . These materials were weighed out in desired composition ratios, and mixed at dry. The respective mixtures were pressed into pellets with 10 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick. Each of the formed pellets was reacted and sintered in an alumina boat at a temperature of 950 to 1100°C in the air or in an oxygen atmosphere to prepare the compounds of Example or Comparative Example of the present invention. The samples prepared in such a manner were subjected to measurement of electric resistivity by a four-probe method and measurement of magnetic susceptibility by means of a SQUID in the temperature range of from room temperature to the liquid helium temperature. Table 1 shows the composition ratios and the transition temperatures (K) of the samples of Examples 1 to 8. Table 2 shows the nominal compositions and the electric characteristics of the samples of Comparative Examples 1 to 5. The composition ratios were measured by EPMA, so that the quantity of the oxygen may involve an error of about 20 %. Table 1 shows that all of the materials of Examples of the present invention are superconductors having Tc = 25 K or higher. The replacement of copper with Fe, Mo, W, or Re gives superior characteristics especially suitable for a superconductor. Table 2 shows that the materials prepared in Comparative Examples 1-5 in which the M is an element other than Fe, Co, Ti, V, Ge, Mo, W, and Re do not exhibit superconducting transition. At the right column of Table 1, the values of decrease of Tc at the water-vapor exposure test are shown. The water-vapor exposure test, namely the test for the durability against water was carried out by exposing the sample to water vapor at 40°C for 50 hours. From the values, the materials of the present invention have a good endurance. Example No. Composition Characteristic (Tc) Decrease of Tc after water-vapor exposure test (ΔTc) 1 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.85 Re 0.15 O 7.2 51K -4K 2 Y 0.9 Ca 0.1 Sr 2 Cu 2.65 Ti 0.35 O 7.1 37K -4K 3 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.7 Ge 0.3 O 7.0 30K -3K 4 Y 0.9 Ca 0.1 Sr 2 Cu 2.85 Mo 0.15 O 7.0 68K -7K 5 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.85 W 0.15 O 7.1 49K -5K 6 Y 0.9 Ca 0.2 Sr 1.9 Cu 2.75 Fe 0.25 O 7.2 60K -7K 7 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O 7.0 26K -4K 8 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.7 V 0.3 O 7.0 29K -4K Comparative Example No. Nominal composition Characteristic (Tc) 1 Y 0.5 Ca 0.5 Sr 2 Cu 3 O y semi-conductor 2 YCaSrCu 3 O y semi-conductor 3 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.7 Al 0.3 O y semi-conductor 4 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.6 Mn 0.4 O y semi-conductor 5 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.6 Ni 0.4 O y semi-conductor Fig. 1 shows the X-ray diffraction pattern of the metal oxide material prepared in Example 1. From Fig. 1, the sample prepared in Example 1 has a tetragonal structure with lattice dimensions of a = b = 3.83 Å, c = 11.5 Å. The materials prepared in other Examples were found to exhibit nearly the same diffraction patterns, thus having the same structure. Fig. 2 is a graph showing the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of this sample, showing that the superconductivity transition begins at approximately 59 K and the resistance reaches zero at 51 K. Hence, the compounds of the present invention become a superconductor at a temperature much higher than the liquid helium temperature. Fig. 3 shows the result of the measurement of temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility of the metal oxide material prepared in Example 1. The sample of Example 1 exhibits Meissner signal below 55 K, and the superconducting volume fraction thereof exceeds 20 % at 10 K. The other metal oxide materials prepared in Examples 2 to 8 were found to give similar results and to have sufficient superconductivity. In comparison of the material of the present invention with the data for YSr 2 Cu 3-x Fe x O 7 shown in Fig. 4 cited from Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 1, 331 (1989), the material of the present invention has a much higher zero-resistivity-temperature and a much higher superconductivity volume fraction. The specific gravity of the compound of Example 1 is 5.5 g/cm 3 , being lower by approximately 30 % than existing copper oxide superconductors such as YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 . The other materials prepared in Examples 2 to 8 also have a specific gravity of not higher than 6 g/cm 3 , being of sufficiently light weight. Examples 9 to 15 and Comparative Examples 6 to 9 The starting materials used were Y 2 O 3 , Gd 2 0 3 , Er 2 O 3 , Dy 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , V 2 O 5 , ReO 3 , SrCO 3 , CaCO 3 , and CuO. These materials were weighed out in desired composition ratios, and mixed at dry. The respective mixtures were reacted and sintered in the same manner as described above to prepare the compounds of the Examples of the present invention and Comparative Examples. The samples were subjected to measurement of electric resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. Table 3 shows the compositions of the compounds and the transition temperature (K) thereof in Examples 9 to 15. Table 12 shows the nominal compositions and the electric characteristics of the samples of Comparative Examples 6 to 9. The composition ratios were measured by EPMA, so that the quantity of the oxygen may involve an error of about 20 %. The materials prepared in Examples 9 to 15 shown in Table 11 are within the composition range of the present invention. The materials of Examples 9 to 15 have the composition ratio of Ln a Ca b Sr c Cu 3-x M x O d where a + b + c = 3 for Examples 9 to 11, and 2.7 ≦ a + b + c ≦ 3.3 for Example 12 to 15. The materials satisfying the condition of a + b + c = 3 have a higher superconductivity transition temperature, and have more desirable characteristics. In Table 11, the materials satisfying the condition of ( a + b + c ) of the present invention all become a superconductor having Tc = 25 K or higher. Table 4 shows that the materials of Comparative Examples outside the range of the composition of the present invention do not exhibit superconductivity transition, or come to have zero resistance at a temperature of 10 K or lower even if the materials exhibit superconductivity transition. The materials of Comparative Examples have inferior characteristics with the superconductivity volume fraction of not more than 3 %. At the right column of Table 3, the values of decrease of Tc at the water-vapor exposure test conducted in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 8 are shown. From the values, the materials of the present invention have a good endurance. Example No. Composition Characteristic (Tc) Decrease of Tc after water-vapor exposure test (ΔTc) 9 Y 0.9 Ca 0.15 Sr 1.95 Cu 2.8 Re 0.27 O 7.2 52K -4K 10 Gd 0.4 Er 0.4 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.85 Re 0.15 O 7.1 48K -6K 11 Y 0.9 Ca 0.2 Sr 1.9 Cu 2.75 Fe 0.1 Re 0.15 O 7.1 51K -3K 12 Dy 0.9 Ca 0.2 Sr 1.7 Cu 2.8 Re 0.2 O 7.0 38K -5K 13 DyCa 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.8 Re 0.2 O 7.0 42K -5K 14 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 1.7 Cu 2.7 V 0.3 O y 33K -3K 15 YCa 0.3 Sr 2 Cu 2.7 V 0.3 O y 32K -4K Comparative Example No. Nominal composition Characteristic (Tc) 6 Y 0.5 Ca 1.5 SrCu 2.7 V 0.3 O y semi-conductor 7 Y 0.8 Ca 0.2 Sr 2 Cu 2.5 V 0.5 O y semi-conductor 8 Y 0.6 Ca 0.2 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.7 V 0.3 O y 6K 9 Y 1.4 Ca 0.5 Sr 1.5 Cu 2.7 V 0.3 O y 5K Examples 16 to 18 and Comparative Examples 10 to 12 The materials shown in Tables 5 and 6 were reacted and sintered in the same manner as described above to prepare the compounds of Examples of the present invention and Comparative Examples. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the materials of Examples 16 to 18 are nearly the same as that of Fig. 1, showing the similar structures of these materials. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of these materials were similar to that of Fig. 3, and the superconductivity volume fractions were more than 10 %, showing superior characteristics. At the right column of Table 5, the values of decrease of Tc at the watervapor exposure test conducted in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 8 are shown. From the values, the materials of the present invention have a good endurance. Example No. Composition characteristic (Tc) Decrease of Tc after water-vapor exposure test (ΔTc) 16 Y 0.92 Ca 0.08 Sr 2 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O 7.0 27K -3K 17 Y 1 Ca 0.08 Sr 1.92 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O 7.0 29K -3K 18 Y 0.5 Ca 1 Sr 1.5 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O 7.0 26K -5K Comparative Example No. Nominal composition Characteristic (Tc) 10 Y 0.97 Ca 0.03 Sr 2 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O y 9K 11 Y 1 Ca 0.03 Sr 1.97 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O y 9K 12 Y 0.4 Ca 1.2 Sr 1.4 Cu 2.6 Co 0.4 O y semi-conductor Examples 19 to 34 and Comparative Examples 13 to 28 The mixed starting materials shown in Tables 7 and 8 were reacted and sintered in the same manner as described above to prepare the compounds of Examples of the present invention and Comparative Examples. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the material of Examples 19 to 34 are nearly the same as that of Fig. 1, showing the similar structures of these materials. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of these materials were similar to that of Fig. 3, and the superconductivity volume fractions were more than 10 %, showing superior characteristics. From Tables 7 and 8, satisfactory superconductivity characteristics are obtained with the compound Ln a Ca b Sr c Cu 3-x M x O d (wherein a + b + c = 3 ) within the range of x regarding the element M. M = Fe : 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 1.0 M = Co : 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 1.0 M = Ti : 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 0.5 M = V : 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 M = Ge : 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 M = Mo : 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 M = W : 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 M = Re : 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 At the right columns of Table 7, the values of decrease of Tc at the watervapor exposure test conducted in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 8 are shown. From the values, the materials of the present invention have a good endurance. Example No. Composition characteristic (Tc) Decrease of Tc after water-vapor exposure test (ΔTc) 19 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.75 Fe 0.25 O 7.2 55K -6K 20 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.2 Fe 0.8 O 7.4 26K -4K 21 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.75 Co 0.25 O 7.1 30K -5K 22 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.2 Co 0.8 O 7.3 26K -4K 23 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.78 Ti 0.22 O 7.0 27K -3K 24 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.55 Ti 0.45 O 7.1 33K -5K 25 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.9 V 0.1 O 7.1 27K -3K 26 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.65 V 0.35 O 7.2 31K -3K 27 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.9 Ge 0.1 O 6.9 35K -6K 28 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.65 Ge 0.35 O 7 29K -5K 29 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.9 Mo 0.1 O 6.9 62K -4K 30 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.65 Mo 0.35 O 7.4 29K -2K 31 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.9 W 0.1 O 7.1 41K -3K 32 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.65 W 0.35 O 7.4 31K -4K 33 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.9 Re 0.1 O 6.9 47K -4K 34 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.65 Re 0.35 O 7.5 30K -3K Comparative Example No. Nominal composition Characteristic (Tc) 13 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.85 Fe 0.15 O y 9K 14 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 1.8 Fe 1.2 O y semi-conductor 15 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.85 Co 0.15 O y semi-conductor 16 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 1.8 Co 1.2 O y semi-conductor 17 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.85 Ti 0.15 O y 8K 18 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.4 Ti 0.6 O y semi-conductor 19 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.97 V 0.03 O y semi-conductor 20 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.55 V 0.45 O y semi-conductor 21 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.97 Ge 0.03 O y semi-conductor 22 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.5 Ge 0.5 O y semi-conductor 23 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.97 Mo 0.03 O y 7K 24 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.5 Mo 0.5 O y semi-conductor 25 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.97 W 0.03 O y 7K 26 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.5 W 0.5 O y semi-conductor 27 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.97 Re 0.03 O y 8K 28 Y 0.8 Ca 0.4 Sr 1.8 Cu 2.5 Re 0.5 O y semi-conductor (1) The metal oxide material of the present invention is synthesizable stably at atmospheric pressure in contrast to conventional superconducting materials that are synthesizable only under a super high pressure. (2) The metal oxide material of the present invention is an excellent superconducting material having a superconductivity transition temperature exceeding by far the liquid helium temperature, and having a superconductivity volume fraction of not less than 10 %. Accordingly, the metal oxide material of the present invention is practically usable with a simple refrigeration apparatus. (3) The metal oxide material of the present invention has the lowest specific gravity of known copper oxide materials which are obtained stably, and is particularly effective when used as a bulk material. (4) In the synthesis of the metal oxide material of the present invention, a toxic material such as heavy metal or barium carbonate is not used in contrast to other copper oxide superconductor, and is therefore safe and inexpensive. (5) The metal oxide material of the present invention has a good endurance against moisture and water vapor. Therefore, the metal oxide material is naturally useful under various application conditions and wide application fields, and can effectively be used as a device material. (6) The metal oxide material of the present invention loses less oxygen even at a high temperature. Therefore, fewer countermeasures are required against the oxygen loss during the production and use of the metal oxide material.

Claims: A metal oxide material represented by the formula Ln a Ca b Sr c Cu 3-x M x O d where: 2.7 ≦ a + b + c ≦ 3.3; 0.8 ≦ a + b ≦ 2.1; 0.05 ≦ b ≦ 1.1; 6 ≦ d ≦ 9; 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 1.0 and, Ln is at least one element selected from the group of elements of Y and lanthanoids or an atomic group consisting of said elements, and M is at least one element selected from the group of elements of Fe, Co, Ti, V, Ge, Mo, W and Re or an atomic group consisting of said elements, subject to the proviso that: (a) when M = Fe, then 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 1.0. (b) when M = Co then 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 1.0. (c) when M = Ti, then 0.2 ≦ x ≦ 0.5. (d) when M = V, then 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. (e) when M = Ge, then 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. (f) when M = Mo, then 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. (g) when M = W, then 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. (h) when M = Re, then 0.05 ≦ x ≦ 0.4. The metal oxide material of claim 1, wherein a+b+c=3 . The metal oxide material of claim 1 or 2, which has a tetragonal or orthorhombic structure, and its C-axis length is not less than 11 Å and not more than 12 Å. The metal oxide material of any preceding claim, which shows superconductivity at a temperature not lower than 20° Kelvin. Use of a material as claimed in any preceding claim as a superconductor in a device or to enable a measurement to be made.

Inventors: DEN TOHRU, KOBAYASHI TAMAKI, DEN, TOHRU, KOBAYASHI, TAMAKI, DEN, TOHRU, C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KOBAYASHI, TAMAKI, C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: C04B35
IPC codes: H01L39, C04B35