Scientist in Charge: Dr. Bernhard Holzapfel (Coordinator)

http://www.ifw-dresden.de/

Expertise and experience

At the Leibniz Institute of Solid State and Materials Research the development of superconducting materials is a major institute focus with a total of around 40 people working on that topic. Superconducting materials research focuses on melt textured bulk, superconducting thin films, RE-123 coated conductors and PIT tapes and ranges from basic phase diagram investigations over the development of advanced film deposition techniques to scale-up projects in cooperation with industry. Extensive state-of-the art preparation facilities like thin film deposition by Pulsed Laser Deposition/Chemical Solution Deposition, Powder-in-Tube wire fabrication, mechanical alloying, or melt texturing and characterization facilities like HRTEM, FIB, EBSD, x-ray pole figure analysis or Low-Temperature Magnetic Force Microscopy can be used to prepare and study superconducting materials. In this research area, currently 8 students graduated in physics, chemistry, materials science or electrical engineering are working on a PhD course in materials science or physics. Prof. Schultz is both a full member of the physics and the engineering faculty of the Dresden technical university and he has already supervised above 25 PhD projects in superconductivity. Besides university lectures (e.g. on superconductivity, thin film growth, materials for electrical engineering) the IFW is also already directly involved in the practical training of physics and material science students in the area of material preparation and characterization. The IFW Dresden participates currently in a number of national and European projects on superconductivity (e.g. COCON, HiperChem, Hipermag) and has a long-standing history of international cooperation both with academia and industry. In addition to coordination experience in a number of finished EU projects, the IFW co-ordinates a recently started EU project on promoting the careers of women in nanoscience “WomenInNano” (FP6-2004-Science-and-society-10 contract 016754, co-ordinator: Dr. Annett Gebert).

Role in the project

The IFW Dresden will coordinate the NESPA network and will be involved in the research on improving pinning properties both in RE123 CC´s / bulk material by controlled incorporation of nano-scale pinning centers and in Powder-in-Tube (PIT) based MgB2-wires by using mechanically alloyed nano-crystalline precursor powder (Task leader KT1.2, KT1.3). The IFW will organize and host regular training courses on advanced preparation and materials characterization techniques.

Key scientific staff:

Dr. Bernhard Holzapfel (Coated Conductor development, NESPA coordinator), Prof. Ludwig Schultz (applications of bulk HTSC), Prof. Gernot Krabbes (nano-engineering RE123 bulk), Dr. Günther Fuchs (pinning in bulk and CC), Dr. Wolfgang Häßler (nano-crystalline MgB2-PIT wires), Dr. Ruben Hühne (Pulsed Laser Deposition of Coated Conductor)