Stability of superconducting YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 in the presence of water.

01 January 1987

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The new high transition temperature superconductors such as YBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 7 in powdered form have been observed to react vigorously at room temperature with water producing a non-superconducting cuprate with copper in oxidation state +2, O sub 2, CuO and Ba(OH) sub 2. Similar reactions will probably occur with nearly equal rapidity in all cuprate superconductors.