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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.1



                           WILMINGTON SECURITIES, INC.
                          824 MARKET STREET, SUITE 900
                           WILMINGTON, DELAWARE 19801
                                 (302) 655-4294

                                 March 29, 2000


Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
460 Ward Drive, Suite F
Santa Barbara, California 93111
Attention:  M. Peter Thomas, President and CEO


         Re:      Financing Commitment
                  --------------------

Gentlemen:

     Wilmington Securities, Inc. ("WSI") hereby commits to make available to
Superconductor Technologies, Inc. ("STI") up to an additional $5,000,000 of
working capital financing beyond that already available to STI under its
existing credit facilities with PNC Bank, NA ("PNC"), on the terms set forth
below.

     1.   Committed Amount. Five million dollars ($5,000,000).

     2.   Financing Structure. WSI will make the Committed Amount available to
          STI through one of the following methods: (a) making working capital
          loans to STI or (b) providing an unconditional guaranty of working
          capital loans made to STI by a commercial bank or other institutional
          lender reasonably acceptable to WSI. WSI has the option to choose the
          method.

     3.   Commitment Period. The commitment set forth in this letter shall
          expire and be of no further force or effect on the earlier of (a)
          April 1, 2001 or (b) the date on which STI receives equity financing
          in a cumulative amount, from the date of this letter to the date in
          question, equal to at least Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) from any
          source or sources, including without limitation venture capital
          rounds, strategic or corporate investors, warrant exercises, private
          placements or public offerings.

     4.   Commitment Fee. $12,500 payable immediately upon acceptance of this
          letter by STI.

     5.   Use of Proceeds. General corporate and working capital purposes.

     6.   Security. None.

     7.   Maturity Date of Loans. The last day of the Commitment Period as set
          forth in paragraph 3 above.

     8.   Interest Rate. PNC Bank prime plus four percent (4%), payable at
          maturity.

     9.   Documentation. Promissory note of STI reflecting the terms set forth
          herein; standard opinion from STI's counsel regarding due
          authorization and enforceability.

    10.   Subordination. WSI will execute and deliver to PNC a subordination
          agreement in form substantially similar to that executed and delivered
          by WSI in 1999 with respect to any loans made by WSI hereunder, in
          consideration of PNC's consent set forth below.

    11.   Availability. Until the maturity date, STI may borrow under this
          facility subject to no conditions other that those set forth in
          paragraph 9 .









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     Please indicate your acceptance of the foregoing terms and provisions by
signing one copy of this letter and returning it to the undersigned no later
than March 31, 2000.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 WILMINGTON SECURITIES, INC.

                                                 By:  /s/ Andrew H. McQuarrie
                                                    --------------------------
                                                          Vice President

         Agreed to and accepted
         this 29th day of March, 2000


         SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


         By:  /s/ M. Peter Thomas
            --------------------------------
                  Chief Executive Officer


         PNC Bank, NA hereby consents to the
         advancement of loans by WSI to STI
         consistent with the terms of this letter.


         PNC Bank, NA


         By    /s/ Jeffrey D. Sletten
            ---------------------------------

         Date:  3/28/00