Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S03430/01
Title:	Enhanced Critical Currents and Pinning in Superconducting MgB2 by Chemical Modification
Principal Investigator:	Driscoll, Professor JL
Other Investigators:	Blamire, Professor M Caplin, Professor AD Cohen, Professor LF
Researcher Co-Investigators:	Dr Y Bugoslavsky Dr GK Perkins Dr X Qi
Project Partners:	Oxford Instruments Group (UK)
Department:	Materials Science & Metallurgy
Organisation:	University of Cambridge
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 November 2003	Ends:	28 February 2007	Value (£):	290,777
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Condensed Matter Physics Materials Characterisation Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Electronics
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Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
One limitation of MgB2 that became apparent early on is that the critical current density Jc is suppressed by quite modest magnetic fields, so limiting its utility for conductor applications.In our preliminary research on bulk material we have shown empirically that both Jc and its field-dependence can be improved substantially by chemical modification of the phase, i.e. by approaches that are suitable for large-scale manufacture. These enhancements depend upon raising the upper critical field Hc2 (which our very recent measurements show to be extremely low in pure MgB2), and also strengthened vortex pinning.We will increase Hc2 by reducing the electron mean free path (which reduces the superconducting coherence length) through controlled alloying, and further explore our successful approach to enhanced pinning by addition of nanoparticle oxide powders. Final optimisation will require that these improvements can be achieved together by scaleable routes.This programme will demand detailed attention to the phase chemistry of MgB2, together with thorough structural and superconductive characterisations. Several international collaborations will make key contributions.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.cam.ac.uk