Additively-manufactured monocrystalline YBCO superconductor

NU 2024-004

INVENTORS

• David Dunand*
• Cristian Boffo
• Dingchang Zhang

SHORT DESCRIPTION
A novel additive manufacturing process for creating high-temperature YBCO superconductors with complex 3D architectures and enhanced electrical properties.

BACKGROUND
YBCO superconductors have garnered attention for their relatively high superconducting critical temperature which allows for their use in numerous transformational technologies. However, traditional YBCO superconductors, used in various high-tech applications, face limitations in achieving complex 3D structures due to their brittleness. This innovative 3D-ink-printing technique overcomes these hurdles, enabling the fabrication of single-crystal YBCO superconductors with intricate geometries, significantly improving their critical current density and expanding their application potential.

ABSTRACT
This technology introduces a breakthrough in the fabrication of YBCO superconductors through 3D-ink-printing, achieving single-crystal microstructures with nearly a hundred-fold increase in critical current density. This advancement enables the creation of superconducting objects with complex 3D architectures, not possible with existing methods, opening new avenues for high-efficiency superconducting applications. Post-printing folding can be performed to achieve 3D structures for use in complex systems where high-efficiency and complex architectures are required.

APPLICATIONS

• Superconducting magnetic bearings
• Energy storage applications
• Quantum applications
• Dark matter experiments (microwave cavities)
• Undulator with short periods for accelerator construction
• Superconducting magnetic shielding device
• Superconducting motors and generators
• Components for fusion power plants
• Components for maglev trains

ADVANTAGES

• Enables the efficient fabrication of superconducting objects with complex geometries.
• Significantly higher critical current density due to single-crystal microstructure.
• Facilitates the creation of 3D shapes with Origami and Kirigami techniques post-printing.

PUBLICATIONS
Dunand et al, Nature Communications, 2025

IP STATUS
US Patent Pending