Oxide superconductors encased in pan-derived carbon matrix

This patent describes a method of preparing a superconductor. It comprises intimately dispersing a finely divided cupric oxide, yttrium oxide and barium carbonate precursor mixture in a stoichiometric ratio such that a superconductor will result, in a polyacrylonitrile, polymer, wherein the precursor mixture is from about 23% to about 94% by weight in the polymer, forming the resulting dispersion into a film, tape, rod, or fiber and subjecting the formed dispersion to an elevated temperature of between about 800 degrees C. to about 950 degrees C. for about 12 hours whereby at the elevated temperature the polyacrylonitrile polymer is carbonized and the finely divided mixture is at the same time sintered in the presence of oxygen and rendered superconductive at a transition temperature for superconductivity of about 95 degrees K. wherein at the temperature a gross change in magnetic susceptibility occurs, and wherein following the 12 hour heating of the formed dispersion at least a sufficient amount of carbon remains to act as a carbon matrix for, and to maintain the shape of, the film, tape, rod or fiber