Discovery

By Encarta, we found that superconductivity is a phenomenon displayed by certain conductors that demonstrate no resistance to the flow of an electric current. Superconductors also exhibit strong diamagnetism; that is, they are repelled by magnetic fields. It conduct electricity without creating friction or heat loss, but most commercial superconducting materials have to operate at very low temperatures which requires expensive super-cooling equipment.

Recently, University of Saskatchewan Canada Research Chair John Tse and colleagues in Germany have identified a new family of superconductors. Of course, this finding could lead to the design of better superconducting materials for a wide variety of industrial uses.

Superconductivity can occur in hydrogen compounds known as molecular hydrides, the team found. In Journal Science, it was published that if we put hydrogen in a molecular compound and apply high pressure, we can get superconductivity.

In the research, they focused on improving the critical temperature for superconductivity so that new superconductors can be operated at higher temperatures, perhaps without a refrigerant.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Saskatchewan.