Abstract
Coated conductors formed from the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) material REBCO (REBa2Cu3O7−δ) enable energy-efficient and high-power-density delivery of electricity, making them key materials for clean energy generation, conversion, transmission and storage. Widespread application of HTS coated conductor wires requires operation at high temperatures in wide-ranging magnetic fields, as well as low-cost processing. In this Review, we investigate different processing methods and applications of HTS coated conductors, highlighting advances in laboratory-scale conductor processing and performance, and examining commercial potential. We discuss how the nanostructure of the HTS material impacts wire performance across different application regimes, and how the nanostructure and performance are related to the inherent supersaturation levels of the respective processing method. We outline approaches to decrease wire cost and improve wire performance in the critical application regime (20–40 K, >1 T magnetic field), and examine emerging and potential future applications of HTS coated conductors.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge T. Bedford for background research contributing to this work, S. H. Moon for critical reading of the manuscript and M. W. Rupich, J. Hänisch, A. Palau, G. Brittles and A. K. Kursumovic for helpful points of discussion and understanding. J.L.M.-D. acknowledges funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering, grant CiET1819_24, the Harding Foundation and Leverhulme Trust, grant RPG-2020-041.
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MacManus-Driscoll, J.L., Wimbush, S.C. Processing and application of high-temperature superconducting coated conductors. Nat Rev Mater 6, 587–604 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00290-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00290-3
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