coatedconductor

A coated conductor is a type of superconductor that utilizes a flexible, often metallic, substrate as the core for deposition of a superconducting layer. Unlike traditional brittle ceramic superconductors, coated conductors offer improved mechanical properties and can be fabricated into long lengths, making them suitable for applications requiring high current densities and magnetic fields. The superconducting layer is typically a high-temperature superconductor (HTS), such as a rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) compound, deposited using various techniques like pulsed laser deposition, sputtering, or chemical vapor deposition. The substrate itself is often made of stainless steel or nickel alloys, which provide structural support and facilitate the epitaxial growth of the superconducting material. The development of coated conductors has been driven by the need for more practical and scalable superconducting wires for technologies like high-field magnets, fault current limiters, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, and electric power transmission. The key challenge in their fabrication lies in achieving high-quality, crystalline superconducting layers with minimal defects and strong grain alignment, which are crucial for maximizing critical current density and minimizing AC losses. Continuous research focuses on improving deposition methods, developing new buffer layers to accommodate lattice mismatches, and reducing manufacturing costs to enable widespread commercial adoption.