Superconductivity Limitations
Electricity has been one of the most transformative technologies in history, allowing for the transmission of a very useful form of energy over long distances. But every “normal” electric system faces electric resistance, which results in the generation of heat when an electric current is applied.
An alternative exists: the so-called superconductive materials. Superconductive materials have an electric resistance of zero, which allows for extremely powerful currents to be used without generating heat.
Without superconductivity, plenty of modern technology would not be possible, including particle accelerators (for example, the CERN), MRI, and maglev trains.
Superconductivity will be a crucial component of the most promising megaprojects and technological innovations, like ITER and nuclear fusion, mass drivers, quantum computers, etc.
Zero-loss electric power lines could also be crucial in developing ultra-long grid connections helping buffer the production of renewables over weather conditions and time zones, solving some of the limitations of solar and wind power.
Source: XOT Metals
However, superconductivity has been mastered so far only for materials displaying it at ultra-low temperatures, barely a few degrees above absolute zero. Or extremely high pressure. Or both.
This makes it not only too complex for any but the most demanding applications (maglev, MRI, etc.) but also very costly, making it uneconomical for many applications that could benefit from superconductive material or any large-scale use.
Many Paths To Superconductivity
It now seems that the material produced in high pressure might be able to retain some of its superconductivity at lower pressure through an experimental method called pressure-quench protocol (PQP).
Recently, the twisted bilayer of WSe₂ (tungsten selenium) appeared to be a good material candidate for higher-temperature superconductors as well.
Another new class of potential superconductors, bilayer nickelates, might have been added to the list this year as well.
The issue with finding new materials that are superconductors at higher temperatures is that we do not really understand how it works. This is even more true for high-temperature or room-temperature superconductivity. For a while, it was thought to be totally impossible.
Then appeared the puzzling case of LK-99 (a form of copper-substituted lead apatite – CSLA), potentially a new type of ambient-pressure, room-temperature superconductor. The claim was immediately contested and criticized as a hoax or a measurement error, but then other researchers discovered there might be something happening after all.
New progress in theoretical physics, made by researchers at the QMUL (Queen Mary University of London), University of Cambridge, and Intellectual Ventures, might shine a light on how room-temperature superconductors might be possible after all.
They published their results1 in the Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, under the title “Upper bounds on the highest phonon frequency and superconducting temperature from fundamental physical constants”.
Understanding TC Limit
Every superconducting material is defined by a value called TC (Critical Temperature). For most materials with superconducting behavior, TC is barely a few degrees above absolute zero.
However, this new research went on to explore what would be the theoretical limits of TC.
Such a limit is determined by fundamental forces and constants of the Universe, like the electron mass, electron charge, and the Planck constant.
This work proves that these constants “set an upper bound for the frequency of phonons in condensed matter phases, or how rapidly an atom can vibrate in these phases”. This, in turn, determines the lower and upper range of possible TC as phonons mediate what superconducting temperature can be.
Upper And Lower Limits For TC
The mathematics and particle physics used to determine what TC is possible or not are rather complex and beyond the scope of non-specialists. Just to give an example from the scientific paper itself in its introduction:
“In our density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we use similar methods to our earlier paper. This includes using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional, an energy cutoff of 1200 eV and a k-point grid of spacing 2π×0.025Å−1 to sample the electronic Brillouin zone.”
To keep it simple, the model developed by the researchers investigates how high the oscillation frequency of an atom can be in solids or liquids.
This would set the upper limit for superconductivity TC at 100 to 1,000°K, or -173.15 to 726°C / -279 to 1340°F. This would put superconductivity, at least in theory, perfectly doable at room temperatures.
It firmly puts room temperature in the possible zone where superconductivity is possible, radically changing our previous perception of room-temperature superconductivity being a theoretical impossibility.
Deeper Understanding Of The Universe
The results have already been independently confirmed in a separate study, confirming that this more detailed theoretical analysis is likely to match physical reality.
This should greatly stimulate the field of superconductivity research, as now there is a theoretical framework explaining better why room-temperature superconductors are possible.
“This discovery tells us that room-temperature superconductivity is not ruled out by fundamental constants. It gives hope to scientists: the dream is still alive.”
Professor Pickard – Physics Professor at the University of Cambridge
Such a deeper understanding of how condensed matter behaves at the particle level should also yield results in other fields, like materials sciences, electronics, or plasma physics.
Future Applications
Room-temperature superconductors would be an immediate wonder-material if understood well enough for manufacturing them at scale.
The first immediate effect would be to decrease the cost of equipment already leveraging superconductivity, like MRI, maglev trains, advanced turbines and generators, particle accelerators, experimental fusion reactors, etc.
It would also make possible technology that until now could either never be done at all or was prohibitively expensive due to the technical constraints of low-temperature superconductors.
This includes hyperloop trains, mass drivers to reach orbit, commercial nuclear fusion, intercontinental grid connections, etc. Each of these is a technology that would forever alter the path of human civilization.
Leaders in Superconductivity Solutions
American Superconductor Corporation
American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC +5.15%)
AMSC is a company providing energy solutions for the power grid, ships, and wind energy. In general, the more power-hungry or massive a system is, the more it requires superconducting technology to avoid overheating.
Despite its name, ASMC provides not only superconductor systems but also, for example, gear drivetrains for wind turbines.
The company is riding multiple growth drivers, from the trend of electrification, and digitalization (including AI datacenters), but also the reshoring of US manufacturing capacities and the need for Navies of the Anglosphere to modernize in response to growing geopolitical risks.
Source: American Superconductor Corporation
In the power supply segment, AMSC has seen a steady rise in orders. This was driven by semiconductor fabs looking to be protected from power grid fluctuations, helping the grid deal with the intermittent nature of renewables, and power supply & controls at industrial sites.
Source: American Superconductor Corporation
In the wind turbine segment, AMSC is mostly active with Electrical Control System (ECS). Historically, ESC was a strong segment for the company with the 2MW wind turbines, but it has progressively declined. AMSC aims for a rebound thanks to the new 3MW turbine design, with a special focus on the Indian market.
Source: American Superconductor Corporation
For military ships, ASMC provides the “AMSC’s High Temperature Superconductor Magnetic Mine Countermeasure,” a system to alter the magnetic signature of the ships to protect them from sea mines. This is sold to the US, Canadian, and UK navies, with $75M worth of orders so far.
Overall, ASMC is doing best with leveraging superconductor technology in niche applications viable today, while likely being ready to deploy further advances in the future. It should also be noted by investors that the stock has experienced extreme volatility in the past, and they should calculate the risks accordingly.
Latest on American Superconductor Corporation
Studies Referenced:
1. K Trachenko, B Monserrat, M Hutcheon and Chris J Pickard.(2025) Upper bounds on the highest phonon frequency and superconducting temperature from fundamental physical constants. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. 37165401. 13 March 2025. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-648X/adbc39