This review volume contains the most up-to-date articles on the chemical aspects of high temperature oxide superconductors. These articles are written by some of the leading scientists in the field and includes a comprehensive list of references. This is an essential volume for researchers working in the fields of ceramics, materials science and chemistry.

This review volume contains the most up-to-date articles on the chemical aspects of high temperature oxide superconductors. These articles are written by some of the leading scientists in the field and includes a comprehensive list of references. This is an essential volume for researchers working in the fields of ceramics, materials science and chemistry.

Advances through carefully conducted quantitative work on well designed, high quality materials characterize the present state of high-temperature superconductivity research. The contributions to this volume present a theoretical and experimental overview of electronic structure and physical properties, including anisotropic features, of high-temperative materials, with a focus on cuprates. In order to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms of superconductivity at high temperatures, this volume is divided into theoretical and experimental parts. The contributions to the two parts correspond to each other, giving readers involved in either area of research activity a reference to findingsof the other. On the other hand, this book gives young physicists high-level information on the present state of research, enhanced by tutorial contributions of leading physicists in the field.

The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in copper based oxides is an event of major importance not only with respect to the physical phenomenon itself but also because it definitely shows that solid state chemistry, and especially the crystal chemistry of oxides, has a crucial place in the synthesis and understanding of new materials for future appli cations. The numerous papers published in the field of high Tc supercon ductors in the last five years demonstrate that the great complexity of these materials necessitates a close collaboration between physicists and solid state chemists. This book is based to a large extent on our experience of the crystal chemistry of copper oxides, which we have been studying in the laboratory for more than twelve years, but it also summarizes the main results which have been obtained for these compounds in the last five years relating to their spectacular superconducting properties. We have focused on the struc ture, chemical bonding and nonstoichiometry of these materials, bearing in mind that redox reactions are the key to the optimization of their supercon ducting properties, owing to the importance of the mixed valence of copper and its Jahn-Teller effect. We have also drawn on studies of extended defects by high-resolution electron microscopy and on their creation by ir radiation effects.

Since the publication of Physical Properties of High Temperature Superconductors I, research in the field of high temperature superconductivity has continued at a rapid pace. Volume II will contain chapters on some of the major areas of activity which were not covered extensively in Volume I: structure, microstructure, thermodynamics, oxygen stoichiometry effects, nuclear magnetic and quadrupole resonance, Hall effect, electronic structure, and the pairing state. Like Volume I, it will present authoritative and comprehensive reviews written by recognized experts in the field. This book should be useful to all students, scientists, and engineers who desire to know more about high temperature superconductivity.

This thesis introduces a systematic study on Second Generation (2G) High Temperature Superconductors (HTS), covering a novel design of an advanced medical imaging device using HTS, and an in-depth investigation on the losses of HTS. The text covers the design and simulation of a superconducting Lorentz Force Electrical Impedance Tomography. This is potentially a significant medical device that is more efficient and compact than an MRI, and is capable of detecting early cancer, as well as other pathologies such stroke and internal haemorrhages. It also presents the information regarding the fundamental physics of superconductivity, concentrating on the AC losses in superconducting coils and tapes. Overall, the thesis signifies an important contribution to the investigation of High Temperature Superconductors. This thesis will be beneficial to the development of advanced superconducting applications in healthcare as well as more broadly in electrical and energy systems.

Cutting edge high temperature materials include high temperature superconductors, solid oxide fuel cells, thermoelectric materials and ultrahigh temperature construction materials (including metals, cermets and ceramics) and have applications in key areas such as energy, transportation and space technologies. This book introduces the concepts which underpin research into these critical materials including thermodynamics, kinetics and various physical, chemical and modelling techniques with a focus on practical “how to” methods and covers: Introduction to High Temperature Research Basic Design of High Temperature Furnaces Temperature Measurement Radiation Pyrometry Refractory Materials in the Laboratory Vacuum in Theory and Practice The Design of Vacuum Furnaces and Thermobalances With highly detailed instrument illustrations and an emphasis on the control and measurement of the fundamental properties of temperature, pressure and mass, High Temperature Experiments in Chemistry and Materials Science provides a practical reference on high temperature measurements, for researchers, advanced students and those working in academic or industrial laboratories. Introduction to High Temperature Research Basic Design of High Temperature Furnaces Temperature Measurement Radiation Pyrometry Refractory Materials in the Laboratory Vacuum in Theory and Practice The Design of Vacuum Furnaces and Thermobalances