Superconducting Materials: Iron-Based Superconductors: Materials Aspects for Applications

This chapter deals with the superconductivity of elemental metals and of metallic alloys. Superconductivity in these materials is phonon-mediated and the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory applies. The chapter presents a general overview on Magnesium diboride (MgB2), with main focus on the properties that are most relevant for current transport applications. Cuprate high-temperature superconductors ("HTSs") have played an outstanding role in the scientific and technological development of superconductors. The chapter focuses on the special case of Fe-based superconductors (FeSCs). It discusses some peculiar aspects of FeSC preparation. Different well-established synthesis methods have been used for the synthesis of polycrystalline and single crystalline FeSCs. The chapter also discusses the general concepts of critical current pinning in superconductors. It also presents the general aspects of the technology of coated conductor. The most prominent electronic applications of superconducting materials are certainly Josephson junctions and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs)