Niobium–germanium explained

Niobium-germanium (Nb₃Ge) is an intermetallic chemical compound of niobium (Nb) and germanium (Ge). It has A15 phase structure.

It is a superconductor with a critical temperature of 23.2 K.

Sputtered films have been reported to have an upper critical field of 37 teslas at 4.2 K.^[1]

History

Nb₃Ge was discovered to be a superconductor in 1973^[2] and for 13 years (until the discovery in 1986 of the cuprate superconductors) it held the record as having the highest critical temperature.^[3]

It has not been as widely used for superconductive applications as niobium–tin or niobium–titanium.

Related alloys

Niobium-germanium-aluminium has an upper critical field of about 10 teslas.^[4]

External links

• US Patent 4336280: Method for continuous production of niobium-germanium layers

Notes and References

1. Preparation of Nb₃Ge films by chemical transport reaction and their critical properties. Gin-ichiro. Oya. E. J. Saur. Journal of Low Temperature Physics. 34. 5–6. 1979. 10.1007/BF00114941. 569 - 583. 1979JLTP...34..569O. 119846986.
2. Web site: Physics Today. https://archive.today/20130415165724/http://www.physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v26/i10/p17_s2?isAuthorized=no. dead. 2013-04-15. October 1973. American Institute of Physics.
3. Web site: Superconducting devices. TheFreeDictionary. 2008-09-06.
4. Book: Sinha , P. K. . Electromagnetic Suspension: Dynamics & Control. The Institution of Engineering and Technology. 1987. 978-0-86341-063-5. 290.