AQUEOUS COPRECIPITATION METHODS FOR PRODUCING HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING MATERIALS

Methods and compositions for producing materials which exhibit high temperature superconductivity. The material produced using the present invention is high in purity and is able to exhibit superconductivity at temperatures above those obtainable by liquid nitrogen. The present invention discloses techniques for fabricating ceramic superconducting materials of the type having the general chemical formula MBa2Cu3O7-x, using an aqueous coprecipitation process. According to the teachings of the present invention, the metal components of the superconducting material are first placed in solution. The ratios of the various components are carefully chosen so that the final product has the desired stoichiometric ratio. The solution pH is adjusted by the addition of a basic solution which contains only volatile components. That is, pH is adjusted in such a manner that the pH adjustment does not leave residue of any type in the final superconducting product after the product is heated, sintered, or calcined. Accordingly, ammonium hydroxide, ammonia gas and urea are generally preferred for adjusting the pH.