Breakthrough in High-Temperature Superconductors: New Wires Achieve Record Performance Without Increased Costs, Paving the Way for Revolutionary Applications

Breakthrough in High-Temperature Superconductors: New Wires Achieve Record Performance Without Increased Costs, Paving the Way for Revolutionary Applications
Image credit: IEEE Spectrum 

Record-Setting High-Temperature Superconducting Wires

Scientists have developed new high-temperature superconducting wires that set a new benchmark for current-carrying capacity, surpassing previous records by 50%. This significant advancement was achieved using fabrication processes that are no more complex or costly than current methods, making it a major step forward in the pursuit of practical superconducting applications.

Superconductors: A Dream of Energy Efficiency and Technological Innovation

Superconductors have long captivated the imagination of scientists and engineers due to their ability to conduct electricity with zero resistance. Unlike regular electrical conductors, which waste energy through resistance, superconductors can operate without energy loss. This unique property has the potential to revolutionize power grids, enable powerful electromagnets for maglev trains, enhance MRI scanners, double wind turbine efficiency, and even contribute to nuclear fusion power plants.

The Challenge of High-Temperature Superconductors

Traditional superconductors require extremely low temperatures below 30 Kelvin to function, making them impractical for many applications. However, high-temperature superconductors, which operate at temperatures above 77 K, can be cooled using more accessible and less expensive cryogenics, such as liquid nitrogen. Despite their promise, large-scale applications for these materials have been limited by the challenges of fabricating high-temperature superconducting wires in a cost-effective manner.

Unprecedented Performance at Various Temperatures

In the latest study, researchers created wires capable of carrying unprecedented amounts of current at temperatures ranging from 5 K to 77 K. At 4.2 K, these wires achieved a current density of 190 million amps per square centimeter without an externally applied magnetic field—50% better than results reported in 2022 and double those from 2021. Under conditions envisioned for fusion applications, such as 20 K with a 20-tesla magnetic field, the wires could carry approximately 9.3 million amps per square centimeter, which is five times greater than current commercial high-temperature superconducting wires.

Enhancing Performance Through Magnetic Vortex Pinning

A crucial factor in the performance of high-temperature superconducting wires is the pinning force, which keeps magnetic vortices in place and prevents interference with electron flow. The new wires demonstrated record-setting pinning forces of more than 6.4 trillion newtons at 4.3 K under a 7-tesla magnetic field—more than double the previous record from 2022. These advancements were made possible by the use of rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) in combination with nanometer-sized columns of non-superconducting barium zirconate, which help pin down magnetic vortices.

Optimizing Superconductor Wire Manufacturing

Amit Goyal, founding director of the University at Buffalo’s RENEW Institute, emphasized that these advancements are the result of years of optimizing deposition processes. He believes that the performance of high-temperature superconductor wires can be further improved through continued exploration of various paths. The hope is that manufacturers can significantly enhance wire performance without requiring major changes to current manufacturing processes.

Implications for Large-Scale Superconducting Applications

The potential impact of these new high-temperature superconducting wires on large-scale applications could be transformative. If manufacturers can double the performance of these wires while maintaining current capital equipment costs, it could unlock new possibilities for the widespread adoption of superconductors in various industries. This breakthrough, detailed in the journal Nature Communications on August 7, represents a significant step towards making superconductors a practical and economically viable solution for the future.