Deutsche Nanoschicht has developed an innovative coating production process to manufacture high-temperature superconductors in a more efficient manner and with less environmental impact. BASF Future Business acts as a cooperation partner with Deutsche Nanoschicht to bring this technology to the market.
The wires used in high-temperature superconductors are produced using Deutsche Nanoschicht’s coating process, which employs chemical solution deposition. The ceramic layers resulting from the process have superconducting properties. The process utilizes customized formulations, which are deposited over a substrate via continuous processes. The substrate’s crystallographic structure is efficiently shifted to the ceramic layers so that all the superconductor crystals obtained are perfectly aligned to one another. Thus, the superconducting coating possesses the unique electrical features of a monocrystal without exhibiting its mechanical properties like impact sensitivity and brittleness. In addition to energy applications, the superconducting coating process enables a wide range of applications.
The superconductor technology will attract manufacturers of motors and generators, as well as cable and mains supply networks in metropolitan areas. In other applications, the technology enables deficient energy harvesting from renewable resources through hydro power and wind generators. High-temperature superconductors have a capacity to conduct current at temperature higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, 77 K or -196°C. This temperature can be achieved at lower cost and maintained during operations using commercial cryo technology. As superconductors have high current carrying capacity than copper, they enable design of more compact and lightweight systems.