Making superconductors

Summary by Krater

The creator attempts to make YBCO, a high-temperature superconductor, from scratch using a citrate pyrolysis method, detailing the chemical preparation, furnace heating steps, and testing for superconductivity with liquid nitrogen and a magnet.

From the video

Answers: How do you make a YBCO superconductor at home?

• synthesizing YBCO superconductor
• citrate pyrolysis method
• furnace sintering of ceramic powders
• flux pinning and Meissner effect demonstration
• troubleshooting chemical purity and equipment errors

Ingredients

• 11.29 g yttrium oxide
• 100 ml nitric acid
• 126 g citric acid
• 72.48 g copper nitrate
• 52.27 g barium nitrate
• 38.3 g yttrium nitrate
• ammonium hydroxide

What it concludes

• YBCO superconductors can be synthesized using a citrate pyrolysis method starting from metal nitrates and citric acid.
• Baking the YBCO precursor powder in a tube furnace with pure oxygen flow at high temperatures is necessary to form the superconducting crystalline structure.
• Proper oxygenation and complete burnout of carbon and organic residues during sintering are critical for achieving superconductivity.
• Flux pinning in YBCO pellets allows them to hold and move small magnets while levitating in liquid nitrogen.