OXIDE-BASED HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR AND ITS PRODUCTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject superconductor raised in critical current density through improving its pinning property by doping an oxide-based high- temperature superconductive material with one element among Ba, Ti, Zr and Hf and/or subjecting the material to heavy ion irradiation. SOLUTION: This superconductor is obtained by the following procedure: an oxide-based high-temperature superconductive material in the form of a wire material sheathed with metallic Ag or Ag alloy (or pref. consisting of a Bi-based oxide or Y-based oxide) is doped with one element among Ba, Ti, Zr and Hf and/or subjected to heavy ion irradiation; wherein the heavy ions are ions of an atom with an atomic number of >=3 (Li), pref. Xe, Pb or the like, the irradiation density being about 0.5×1011 to 1.5×l011 ions/cm2. This superconductor thus obtained is improved in pinning property because columnar flaws formed by the above doping and/or heavy ion irradiation act as pinning centers.