Superconductors

The price of superconductors rangers approximately from 1000 dollars to more than 3000 dollars per Kg. For example, the Bi2223 which was created in 1988 has a price of 1000 dollars whilst YBCO is 3000 dollars per Kg.

Naturally, the price influences the quality and shape of the superconductor with the most common shape being tape. Tape is the most used to generate strong magnetic fields using coils. Superconductor tape coils can be used in fusion reactors and accelerators to maintain and control plasma flow away from the reactor walls.

The creation of a strong magnetic field allows for fusion reactors and accelerators to become more compact and smaller as a stronger field is created from smaller, more efficient superconductors. Additionally, the development of new superconductors also means that the next generation of fusion reactors can produced with reduced radioactive waste.

HgBa2Ca2Cu3Oy showed the highest Tc′s ∼ 135 K under ambient pressure. Bi2223 tapes, RE123 tapes and MgB2 wires, are introduced last few years.

Currently AI requires electricity production for data centres however, lower electricity costs make products more competitive on the world stage.

The major superconductor manufacturers are Sumitomo, Nexans, LS Cable, Ultera, Furukawa, and Innopower.

Superconductors research labs are usually university and institutes of which there are approximately 25 research labs. Currently, everybody expects that AI will be the new tool to discover better superconductors.