Revolutionary Weld Technique Unlocks Superconductor Potential Click on image to see a larger view. A new welding technique for high-temperature superconductors is adding to the range of practical applications for these materials. High-temperature superconductors , which lose electrical resistance when cooled with liquid nitrogen, were discovered in the late 1980s. They hold the potential for generating more efficient magnetic fields and transmitting electricity without loss to resistance.
Some applications are in use, but most ideas require large components.
Researchers have been unable to make large high-performance superconducting structures that carry current uniformly and have found it difficult to join smaller sections together without interfering with electrical flow. Now Argonne materials scientists have developed a way to weld high-temperature superconductors, creating strong bonds that preserve their crystal structures across the joint.