Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Arizona State University
Superconducting materials are distinguished by their ability to carry electrical current without a corresponding voltage drop, i.e., with no electrical resistance. In 1986, a new class of superconducting materials was discovered which exhibited superconducting behavior at temperatures as high as 130 K (- 143 °C). Compared to the previously existing superconductors, which had to be cooled to less than 20 K to become superconducting, this represented a significant advance, and thus the new materials were referred to as "high-temperature superconductors." This presentation will provide an overview of the basic properties of superconductors, developments in the field of high-temperature superconductors, and promising applications of these materials.