Niobium-germanium (Nb₃Ge) is a metallic chemical compound of niobium (Nb) and Germanium (Ge). It has A15 phase structure.

It is a superconductor with a critical temperature of 23.2 kelvins (K).

Spluttered films have been reported to have an upper critical field of 37 Tesla at 4.2 K.

History

Nb₃Ge was discovered to be a superconductor in 1971 and for 15 years (until the discovery in 1986 of the cuprate superconductors) it held the record as having the highest critical temperature .

It has not been as widely used for superconductive applications as niobium-tin or niobium-titanium.

Related alloys

Niobium-germanium-aluminium has an upper critical field of about 10 Tesla.

References

External links

• US Patent 4336280: Method for continuous production of niobium-germanium layers