Microcrystals of metallic copper were electrochemically deposited onto the surface of poroussiliconfilmsin the aqueouselectrolyte of copper(II) chloride.
Then a coat is applied of yttrium, barium and copper, the metallic elements of YBCO, today's HTS recipe of choice, along with impurities just nanometres (billionths of a metre) across.
Miners can use underwater robots to dig up deposits left from "black smokers, " which are little towers of metallic sulfides that form after magma forces fluids with copper, gold and other metals through the seafloor.