Superconductor Reduces Current Capacity by Half Once More

Superconductor Reduces Current Capacity by Half Once More

Superconductor Reduces Current Capacity by Half Once More

Advancing Superconductors with Record Current Capacity

Superconductors have long been the foundation for promising technological advancements, yet their practical applications have often remained unfulfilled. Recent research has unveiled superconducting wires that may excel in performance, carrying 50% more current compared to previous record-holders, achieved without introducing additional costs or complexities in their production.

Superconductors enable electricity to flow without resistance. Traditional superconductors function effectively only under extremely low temperatures below 30K. In contrast, high-temperature superconductors are effective above 77K, allowing them to reach superconducting states using cost-effective cryogenics based on liquid nitrogen.

Standard conductors relative to superconductors experience some resistance which dissipates energy. This characteristic of superconductors has sparked interest in creating more efficient power grids. They also serve as robust electromagnets, proving beneficial for technologies such as magnetic levitation (maglev) trains, enhanced MRI systems, and increasing the efficiency of wind turbines and nuclear fusion reactors.

Global enterprises are currently in the process of fabricating kilometer-long high-temperature superconductor wires. Nevertheless, substantial applications for superconductors may remain unattainable until more economically viable manufacturing methods are developed.

In this recent study, researchers crafted wires capable of achieving record-breaking current levels ranging from 5K to 77K, employing manufacturing techniques as simple and cost-effective as existing methods for high-temperature superconducting wires.

Notably, at 4.2K, these wires can handle 190 million amperes per square centimeter, which exceeds the previous best reported results—being 50% superior to figures from 2022 and double those from 2021. Under conditions with an external magnetic field of 20 tesla at 20K, these wires might sustain about 9.3 million amperes per square centimeter, five times more than available commercial high-temperature superconductors.

The success of commercially manufactured high-temperature superconducting wires is critical in maintaining what’s known as pinning force—the capacity to stabilize magnetic vortices. This stability plays a crucial role in facilitating efficient electron flow. The newly developed wires display pinning forces exceeding 6.4 trillion newtons, under conditions which greatly surpass previously documented benchmarks.

Constructed from rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO), the wires utilize nanometer-sized insulating barium zirconate columns, which enhance magnetic stability and allow for higher supercurrents.

The researchers invested years in refining the deposition processes to achieve these remarkable results. Further improvements are anticipated as exploration continues. If manufacturers of high-temperature superconductor wires can enhance their products’ performance significantly, compatible with current manufacturing costs, they could revolutionize the large-scale applications of superconductors.

The findings have been documented in Nature Communications. Further enhancements promptly executed by industry players could potentially reshape the use of superconductors in various fields, impacting technology and energy efficiencies greatly.