3D-printed superconductor achieves record performance with soft matter approach
12 hours ago
- #quantum-materials
- #3D-printing
- #superconductors
- Cornell researchers developed a one-step 3D printing method to create superconductors with record properties.
- The method uses a copolymer-inorganic nanoparticle ink that self-assembles during printing, followed by heat treatments.
- The 3D-printed niobium-nitride superconductor achieved an upper critical magnetic field of 40 to 50 Tesla, a record for this compound.
- The process skips traditional steps, creating materials with structure at atomic, mesostructured, and macroscopic scales.
- The method can be applied to other transition metal compounds and complex 3D structures difficult to achieve conventionally.
- The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and utilized Cornell's specialized facilities.