High-temperature superconductors of the family (RE)Ba2Cu3O7-delta and their application (Review Article)

This review article is a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the discovery of YBa2Cu3O7-delta high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs). As a result of this discovery a family of (RE)Ba2Cu3O7-delta (RE stands for “rare earth”) HTSCs has found great practical use. The review article consists of a brief history of how YBa2Cu3O7-delta was conceived and five sections describing the family of compounds: crystallography, phase diagrams, manufacturing techniques, main superconducting properties, and fields of application.