The recent discovery of superconductivity in MgB2, with its BCS-like Cooper pairing mechanism and the 40-K critical temperature, and the demonstration of efficient single-optical-photon detection in superconducting NbN nanowire meanders inspired an interest in the development of superconducting radiation detectors based on MgB2. We report the results of our experimental and theoretical studies ...

We report, for the first time, an increase in the superconducting critical temperature, TC of commercial ‘‘dirty’’ MgB2 by a nonsubstitutional hole-doping of the MgB2 structure using minute, single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) inclusions. We varied the SWCNTs concentration from 0.05 wt% to 5 wt% and investigated the temperature-dependent resistivity from 10 K to 300 K. We used micro-Raman spect...

This review paper illustrates the main normal and superconducting state properties of magnesium diboride, a material known since early 1950's, but recently discovered to be superconductive at a remarkably high critical temperature Tc=40K for a binary compound. What makes MgB2 so special? Its high Tc, simple crystal structure, large coherence lengths, high critical current densities and fields, ...

– The recently discovered superconductivity in MgB2 has captured world attention due to its simple crystal structure and relatively high superconducting transition temperature Tc = 39K. It is generally accepted that it is phonon-mediated s-wave BCS-like superconductivity. Surprisingly, the strongly temperature dependent anisotropy of the upper critical field, observed experimentally in magnesiu...

The discovery of graphene has led to a rising interest in seeking quasi two-dimensional allotropes of several elements and inorganic compounds. Boron, carbon's neighbour in the periodic table, presents a curious case in its ability to be structured as graphene. Although it cannot independently constitute a honeycomb planar structure, it forms a graphenic arrangement in association with electron...

The outline design of a fully superconducting motor for liquid hydrogen pump with a magnesium-diboride (MgB2) superconducting wire is carried out to present various advantages arising from its prospective performances. The squirrel-cage rotor winding composed of superconducting loops with the MgB2 wire enables us to operate the motor not only in a slip mode but also in a synchronous rotation mo...