A Simplified Synthetic Experiment of YBa2Cu3O7–x Superconductor for First-Year Chemistry Laboratory

In this study, a simplified synthetic experiment of YBa2Cu3O7x (Y-123) superconductor was devised for first-year chemistry laboratory to demonstrate high temperature superconductor and the Meissner effect. The traditional synthetic methods of Y-123 superconductor need repeated grinding and heating in oxygen at high temperature, which are often tedious and time-consuming. In this experiment, a stoichiometric reduced quantity of starting materials was heated in air in a computer-controlled box furnace after grinding and pressing. The black pellet obtained exhibited superconductivity that levitated a magnet to about 4 mm height in liquid nitrogen to demonstrate the Meissner effect. The synthesis of the superconductors can be easily finished in 3-hour laboratory class, and the Meissner effect was tested in the following week. This simplified synthetic experiment of Y-123 superconductor reduces the chemical amount, takes less energy as well as less preparation time, and was successfully carried out by first-year students.