Properties of Superconducting Nb and NbTi Coatings-films Deposited by New Ionic-Plasma Clusters method

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel ionic-plasma clusters method for depositing superconducting Nb and NbTi coatings, demonstrating high critical current densities, good manufacturability, and potential for large-scale production.

Contribution

Introduces a new ionic-plasma clusters technique for depositing superconducting films with high performance and manufacturability.

Findings

High critical current density in NbTi layered coatings

Successful deposition of thick, homogeneous superconducting films

Demonstrated low-cost, reliable, scalable production process

Abstract

Originally developed technique based on generation of plasma-cluster flux emitted from cathode spots at surface of an integrally cold cathode has been applied for deposition of niobium superconductive (thick) film materials. Possibility for depositing thick film coatings in homogeneous, heterogeneous and layered structures is shown to be feasible. Experimental results of mechanical tests including Tensile Testing resulting in stretching of coatings are presented. Critical temperature, current density and magnetic field of deposited superconducting films with various types of structural compositions have been investigated. Niobium-titanium layered coating films deposited by Ionic-plasma clusters method are characterized by very high parameters of critical current density. All results reveal coating material high value in terms of manufacturability. Low cost, high reliability and ease of implementation of new technology for a wide-scale production of superconducting film materials have been demonstrated.