Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of September
29, 2000, by and among Superconductor Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation,
with its headquarters located at 460 Ward Drive, Santa Barbara, California
93111-2310 (the "COMPANY"), and each of the undersigned (together with their
respective affiliates and any assignee or transferee of all of their respective
rights hereunder, the "INITIAL INVESTORS").

         WHEREAS:

         A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT"),
the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained
therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors: (i) shares of its Series E
Convertible Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that are convertible into
shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "COMMON
STOCK"), upon the terms and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth
in the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights with respect to the
Preferred Stock (the "CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION"); (ii) stock purchase warrants
(the "INITIAL WARRANTS") that are exercisable into shares of Common Stock upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Initial Warrants; and (iii) stock
purchase warrants (the "INCENTIVE WARRANTS" and, collectively with the Initial
Warrants, the "WARRANTS") that are exercisable into shares of Common Stock upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Incentive Warrants; and

         B. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the
Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"1933 ACT"), and applicable state securities laws.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each
of the Initial Investors hereby agree as follows:

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         1. DEFINITIONS.

                  a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:

                           (i) "INVESTORS" means the Initial Investors and any
transferee or assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

                           (ii) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION"
refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration
Statement or Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415
under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a
continuous basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness
of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").

                           (iii) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means: (A) the
Conversion Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to
the Preferred Shares (including pursuant to Articles V, VI.D(b) and VI.E of the
Certificate of Designation and Section 2(c) herein); (B) the Warrant Shares
issued or issuable upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants; and
(C) any shares of capital stock issued or issuable as a dividend on or in
exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.

                           (iv) "REGISTRATION STATEMENT(s)" means a registration
statement(s) of the Company under the 1933 Act.

                  b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.

         2. REGISTRATION.

                  A. MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare and, on
or prior to the date (the "FILING DATE") which is thirty (30) days after the
date of the closing under the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING
DATE"), file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the
resale of the Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement, to the
extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such Registration Statement
also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as
may become issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Preferred
Shares and upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants to prevent
dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
The number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such Registration
Statement shall be no less than 5,121,508. The Company acknowledges that the
number of shares initially included in the Registration Statement represents a
good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares issuable upon conversion of
or otherwise pursuant to the Preferred Shares and upon exercise of or otherwise
pursuant to the Warrants. The Registration Statement (and each amendment or
supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of

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effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to (and subject to the approval of) the
Initial Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or other submission.

                  b. UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities subject to such underwritten offering, with the consent of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors, shall have the right to select
one legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and manager or managers to
administer the offering, which investment banker or bankers or manager or
managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. In the event that any
Investors elect not to participate in such underwritten offering, the
Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities shall contain
appropriate plans of distribution reasonably satisfactory to the Investors
participating in such underwritten offering and the Investors electing not to
participate in such underwritten offering (including, without limitation, the
ability of non-participating Investors to sell from time to time at any time
during the effectiveness of such Registration Statement).

                  c. PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall use its best
efforts to obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the
Closing Date (the "REGISTRATION DEADLINE"). If (i) the Registration Statement
covering the Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC by the Registration
Deadline, or (ii) after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC, sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant
to the Registration Statement (other than by reason of an Investor's failure to
comply with its obligations under Sections 4(a) or 4(b) of this Agreement), or
(iii) the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq
National Market (the "NNM"), the Nasdaq SmallCap Market (the "NASDAQ SMALLCAP"),
the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American Stock Exchange (the
"AMEX") after being so listed or included for quotation, then the Company will
make payments to the Investors in such amounts and at such times as shall be
determined pursuant to this Section 2(c) as partial relief for the damages to
the Investors by reason of any such delay in or reduction of their ability to
sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any
other remedies available at law or in equity). Subject to the limitation set
forth in Article VI.H of the Certificate of Designation, the Company shall pay
to each holder of the Preferred Shares or Registrable Securities an amount equal
to the stated value of the Preferred Shares then outstanding (and, in the case
of holders of Registrable Securities, the stated value of Preferred Shares from
which such Registrable Securities were converted or the exercise price of the
Warrants upon exercise of which such Registrable Securities were received)
("AGGREGATE SHARE PRICE"), multiplied by the Applicable Percentage (as defined
below), multiplied by the sum of: (i) the number of months (prorated for partial
months) after the Registration Deadline and prior to the date the Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that there shall
be excluded from such period any delays which are solely attributable to changes
required by the Investors in the Registration Statement with respect to
information relating to the Investors, including, without limitation, changes to
the plan of distribution, or to the failure of the Investors to conduct their
review of the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(h) below in a
reasonably prompt manner; (ii) the number of months (prorated for partial
months) during the Registration Period (as defined below) that sales of all of
the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement
after

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the Registration Statement has been declared effective (including, without
limitation, when sales cannot be made by reason of the Company's failure to
properly supplement or amend the prospectus included therein in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement (including Section 3(b) hereof or otherwise), but
excluding any days during an Allowed Delay (as defined in Section 3(f))); and
(iii) the number of months (prorated for partial months) that the Common Stock
is not listed or included for quotation on the NNM, Nasdaq SmallCap, NYSE or
AMEX or that trading thereon is halted after the Registration Statement has been
declared effective. The term "APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE" means 1.5 hundredths
(.015). (For example, if the Registration Statement becomes effective one (1)
month after the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay $15,000 for each
$1,000,000 of Aggregate Share Price. If thereafter, sales could not be made
pursuant to the Registration Statement for an additional period of one (1)
month, the Company would pay an additional $15,000 for each $1,000,000 of
Aggregate Share Price.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at each
Investor's option, may be added to the Conversion Amount (as defined in the
Certificate of Designation) of the Preferred Shares pursuant to Article VI.A(a)
of the Certificate of Designation and thereafter be convertible into Common
Stock at the "CONVERSION PRICE" (as defined in the Certificate of Designation)
in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares. Any shares of Common Stock
issued upon conversion of such amounts shall be Registrable Securities. If the
Investor desires to convert the amounts due hereunder into Registrable
Securities, it shall so notify the Company in writing within two (2) business
days of the date on which such amounts are first payable in cash and such
amounts shall be so convertible (pursuant to the mechanics set forth in the
Certificate of Designation), beginning on the last day upon which the cash
amount would otherwise be due in accordance with the following sentence.
Payments of cash pursuant hereto shall be made within five (5) days after the
end of each period that gives rise to such obligation, provided that, if any
such period extends for more than thirty (30) days, interim payments shall be
made for each such thirty (30) day period.

                  d. PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. Subject to the last sentence of
this Section 2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration
Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the SEC
a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than
on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity securities
to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business
or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans), the Company shall send to each Investor who is entitled to
registration rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such determination
and, if within fifteen (15) days after the effective date of such notice, such
Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any
underwritten public offering for the account of the Company the managing
underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of
Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement because, in
such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such
limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company
shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement only such limited
portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has
requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to
include Registrable Securities in proportion to the number of Registrable
Securities sought to be included by such

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Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable
Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the
holders of which are not entitled by contract to inclusion of such securities in
such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the
Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however, that, after giving
effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable
Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities having the
contractual right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other
than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights. No right to
registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be
construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an
offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to registration under
this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement shall, unless
otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in
an underwritten offering using the same underwriter or underwriters and, subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other
shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten offering. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, the registration rights of the
Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall only be available in the event the
Company fails to timely file, obtain effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of
any Registration Statement to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

                  e. ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. The Company represents and
warrants that it meets the registrant eligibility and transaction requirements
for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the sale by the Initial Investors
and any other Investors of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall file
all reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner
so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of Form S-3.

         3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.

                  In connection with the registration of the Registrable
Securities, the Company shall have the following obligations:

                  a. The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC
as soon as practicable after the Closing Date (but in no event later than the
Filing Date), a Registration Statement with respect to the number of Registrable
Securities provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use its best efforts to
cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing (but in no event later than the
Registration Deadline), and keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant
to Rule 415 at all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the date on
which all of the Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on
which the Registrable Securities (in the opinion of counsel to the Initial
Investors) may be immediately sold to the public without registration or
restriction (including without limitation as to volume by each holder thereof)
under the 1933 Act (the "REGISTRATION Period"), which Registration Statement
(including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained
therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.

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                  b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statements
effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period,
comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of
all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statements
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers
thereof as set forth in the Registration Statements. In the event that on any
Trading Day (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) (the "REGISTRATION
TRIGGER DATE") the number of shares available under a Registration Statement
filed pursuant to this Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable
Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the
Preferred Shares (based on the Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate
of Designation) then in effect) and upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to
the Warrants, in each case without giving effect to any limitations on the
Investors' ability to convert the Preferred Shares or exercise the Warrants, the
Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as
to cover one hundred fifty percent (150%) of all of the Registrable Securities
so issued or issuable (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion or
exercise contained in the Certificate of Designation or the Warrants) as of the
Registration Trigger Date, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any
event within twenty (20) business days after the necessity therefor arises
(based on the market price of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on
which the Company reasonably elects to rely). The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become
effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in any event
within sixty (60) days of the Registration Trigger Date. The provisions of
Section 2(c) above shall be applicable with respect to the Company's obligations
under this Section 3(b).

                  c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement and its legal
counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed
with the SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of each Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus
and each amendment or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration
Statement referred to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of
the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence
from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration
Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for
which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of
copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments
and supplements thereto and such other documents as such Investor may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such Investor. The Company will immediately notify each Investor by
facsimile of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment. The Company will promptly respond to any and all
comments received from the SEC, with a view towards causing each Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by the SEC as soon
as practicable and shall file an acceleration request as soon as practicable
following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable,
following notification by the SEC that any such Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto will not be subject to review.

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                  d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered reasonably request, (ii) prepare and file
in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to
maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take
such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (a) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that
cause the Company undue expense or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter
or bylaws, which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company determines
to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

                  e. In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being offered in the offering (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors) select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering.

                  f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of
which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in
any Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and use its best
efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request; provided that, for not more than ten (10) consecutive
calendar days (or a total of not more than thirty (30) calendar days in any
twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of material
non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus or
Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is not, in
the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an
"ALLOWED DELAY"); provided, further, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify
the Investors in writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the prior
written consent of an Investor, shall the Company disclose to such Investor any
of the facts or circumstances regarding) material non-public information giving
rise to an Allowed Delay and (ii) advise the Investors in writing to cease all
sales under such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay. Upon
expiration of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall again be bound by the first
sentence of this Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise
thereto.

                  g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any
Registration Statement, and, if such an

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order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible
moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold
(or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the
issuance of such order and the resolution thereof.

                  h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel
designated by the Initial Investors to review such Registration Statement and
all amendments and supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration
or effectiveness thereof and any correspondence to the SEC relating to the
Registration Statement) a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with
the SEC, and not file any document (nor send any correspondence) in a form to
which such counsel reasonably objects and will not request acceleration of such
Registration Statement without prior notice to such counsel. The sections of
such Registration Statement covering information with respect to the Investors,
the Investor's beneficial ownership of securities of the Company or the
Investors intended method of disposition of Registrable Securities shall conform
to the information provided to the Company by each of the Investors.

                  i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month
period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter
next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.

                  j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall use its
best efforts to furnish, on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered
to an underwriter (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, from counsel
representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form,
scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters and (ii) a letter, dated such date, from the
Company's independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is
customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in
an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters.

                  k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Initial Investors, (iv) one firm of attorneys
and one firm of accountants or other agents retained by all other Investors, and
(v) one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the
"INSPECTORS") all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall
be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to
exercise its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may
reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that
each Inspector shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure
(except to an Investor) of any Record or other information which the Company
determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the
Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is
necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration
Statement, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
other order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c)
the

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information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The
Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information in such
Records to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into
confidentiality agreements (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company)
with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form of this Section
3(k). Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow
the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between
the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investor's ability to
sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with
applicable laws and regulations.

                  l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company agrees that
it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an
Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.

                  m. The Company shall (i) cause all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities
exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company
are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) to the extent the securities
of the same class or series are not then listed on a national securities
exchange, secure the designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement on the NNM or, if not eligible for the
NNM, on the Nasdaq SmallCap and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect
to such Registrable Securities.

                  n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar,
which may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.

                  o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to such Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors may reasonably
request and

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registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or
the Investors may request, and, within three (3) business days after a
Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is ordered
effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel
selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable
Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are
included in such Registration Statement) an instruction in the form attached
hereto as EXHIBIT 1 and an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto
as EXHIBIT 2.

                  p. At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.

                  q. The Company shall not, and shall not agree to, allow the
holders of any securities of the Company to include any of their securities in
any Registration Statement under Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or
supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without the consent of the holders
of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities. In addition, the
Company shall not offer any securities for its own account or the account of
others in any Registration Statement under Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment
or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without the consent of the
holders of a majority-in- interest of the Registrable Securities.

                  r. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

                  s. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related
to a Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all
applicable rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection
therewith (including without limitation the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC).

         4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.

                  In connection with the registration of the Registrable
Securities, the Investors shall have the following obligations:

                  a. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to
the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration
of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection
with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5)
business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

                  b. Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably
requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statements hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company
in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from the Registration Statements.

                  c. In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being registered (with the approval of the Initial
Investors) determine to engage the services of an underwriter, each Investor
agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing
of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from such Registration Statement.

                  d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f)
or 3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

                  e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in
usual and customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and
executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all
underwriting discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those
payable by the Company pursuant to Section 5 below.

         5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.

                  All expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees and
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, shall be borne by the
Company.

         6. INDEMNIFICATION.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                  In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:

                  a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify,
hold harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable
Securities, (ii) the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents and each
person who controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 ACT"), if any, (iii) any
underwriter (as defined in the 1933 Act) for the Investors, and (iv) the
directors, officers, partners, employees and each person who controls any such
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each, an
"INDEMNIFIED PERSON"), against any joint or several losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (collectively, together with actions, proceedings or
inquiries by any regulatory or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced
or threatened, in respect thereof, "CLAIMS") to which any of them may become
subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration
Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date
of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended
or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any
material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading; or
(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the
1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities
law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the
Registrable Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii)
being, collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in
Section 6(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall
reimburse the Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are
due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising
out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person
or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with
the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto; (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with
respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Person if the untrue statement or omission of material fact
contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the
prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, such corrected prospectus was
timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, and the
Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect
prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified
Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it. Such indemnity shall remain in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                  b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, any
underwriter and any other stockholder selling securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement or any of its directors or officers or any person who
controls such stockholder or underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act (collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim to which any of them may become subject,
under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out
of or is based upon any Violation by such Investor, in each case to the extent
(and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor
expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and subject to
Section 6(c) such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses (promptly
as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable) reasonably incurred by
them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided,
however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be
liable under this Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only
that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of
the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of
the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue
statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus
was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented.

                  c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be
paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel
retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The indemnifying party shall pay for only one
separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties,
as applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a
majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

a majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors), if the Investors are entitled
to indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver written notice
to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any
such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its ability to
defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made
by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred
and is due and payable.

         7. CONTRIBUTION.

                  To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together
with any indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any
seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of
proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.

         8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.

                  With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits
of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or
regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the investors to sell
securities of the Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the
Company agrees to:

                  a. make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;

                  b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as
the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that
nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

                  c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and
documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be
reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to
Rule 144 without registration.

         9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

                  The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically
assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of
Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the
transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is
furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii)
the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment,
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, (v) such transfer
shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, and (vi) such transferee shall be an "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" as that term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the
1933 Act.

         10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

                  Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company, each
of the Initial Investors (to the extent such Initial Investor still owns
Registrable Securities) and Investors who hold a majority interest of the
Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.

         11. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.

                  b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the
terms hereof shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized
overnight delivery service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days
after being placed in the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or upon
receipt, if delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight
delivery

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

service) or by facsimile, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses for
such communications shall be:

                      If to the Company:

                      Superconductor Technologies Inc.
                      460 Ward Drive
                      Santa Barbara, California 93111-2310
                      Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
                      Facsimile: 805-967-0342

                      With copy to:

                      Guth Rothman & Christopher, LLP
                      10866 Wilshire Boulevard
                      Suite 1250
                      Los Angeles, California 90024
                      Attention: Daniel G. Christopher, Esq.
                      Facsimile: 301-470-8354

         If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such
Investor's name on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
                      With copy to:

                      Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
                      1735 Market Street
                      Philadelphia, PA 19103
                      Attention:  Gerald J. Guarcini, Esq.
                      Facsimile: 215-864-8999

                  c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.

                  d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made
and to be performed in the State of Delaware (without regard to principles of
conflict of laws). Both parties irrevocably consent to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States federal courts and the state courts located in
Delaware with respect to any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this
Agreement, the agreements entered into in connection herewith or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and irrevocably agree that all
claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in such courts.
Both parties irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such suit or proceeding. Both parties further agree that service
of process upon a party mailed by first class mail shall be deemed in every
respect effective service of process upon the party in any such suit or
proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect either party's right to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law. Both parties agree that a

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or proceeding shall be conclusive
and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on such judgment or in any
other lawful manner.

                  e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Certificate of Designation and the Warrants (including all schedules and
exhibits thereto) constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein and therein. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Certificate of Designation and the Warrants supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.

                  f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.

                  g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

                  h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this
Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

                  i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

                  j. Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other
determinations to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, determined
as if the all of the shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants then outstanding
have been converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities, as the case
may be.

                  k. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its
obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by vitiating
the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the
Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations
hereunder will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened
breach by the Company of any of the provisions hereunder, that each Investor
shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies in law or in
equity, to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without
any bond or other security being required.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

                  l. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be
the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules
of strict construction will be applied against any party.

                  m. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is
invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such
provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict
therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of
law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.

                  n. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in
any Registration Statement and each increase to the number of Registrable
Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors
based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time
of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Investor
shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities,
each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of
Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement for such transferor.
Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and which remain
allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any Registrable Securities
shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of
shares of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors. For the avoidance
of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held by an Investor shall be
determined as if all Preferred Shares and Warrants then outstanding and held by
an Investor were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Initial Investors
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above
written.

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

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

RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS, LDC
By:     Rose Glen Capital Management, L.P.,
        Investment Manager
        By:    RGC General Partner Corp.,
           ----------------------------------
               as General Partner

By:     /s/ Gary S. Kaminsky

   ------------------------------------------
        Gary S. Kaminsky
        Managing Director

                                       19<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

      THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT
      HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.
      EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
      DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2000, NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR ANY OF SUCH
      SHARES MAY BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
      REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR SUCH SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF
      COUNSEL, IN FORM, SUBSTANCE AND SCOPE CUSTOMARY FOR OPINIONS OF COUNSEL IN
      COMPARABLE TRANSACTIONS, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SUCH ACT
      OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SUCH ACT.

                                                                    Right to
                                                                    Purchase
                                                                    313,370
                                                                    Shares of
                                                                    Common
                                                                    Stock, par
                                                                    value $0.001
                                                                    per share

                    STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (INITIAL WARRANT)

      THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, RGC International Investors, LDC
or its registered assigns, is entitled to purchase from Superconductor
Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), at any time or from
time to time during the period specified in Paragraph 2 hereof, Three Hundred
Thirteen Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy (313,370) fully paid and nonassessable
shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common
Stock"), at an exercise price of $21.54 per share (the "Exercise Price"). The
Company hereby confirms to the holder that the Exercise Price is greater than
both the book value of a share of Common Stock and the average closing bid price
of the Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on the
trading day immediately prior to the date of this Warrant. The term "Warrant
Shares," as used herein, refers to the shares of Common Stock purchasable
hereunder. The Warrant Shares and the Exercise Price are subject to adjustment
as provided in Paragraph 4 hereof. The term Warrants means this Warrant and the
other warrants issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated September 29, 2000, by and among the Company and the Buyers listed on the
execution page thereof (the "Securities Purchase Agreement").

      This Warrant is subject to the following terms, provisions, and
conditions:

<PAGE>   2

      1. MANNER OF EXERCISE; ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES; PAYMENT FOR SHARES.
Subject to the provisions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the holder
hereof, in whole or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant, together with a
completed exercise agreement in the form attached hereto (the "Exercise
Agreement"), to the Company during normal business hours on any trading day at
the Company's principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the
Company as it may designate by notice to the holder hereof), and upon (i)
payment to the Company in cash, by certified or official bank check or by wire
transfer for the account of the Company of the Exercise Price for the Warrant
Shares specified in the Exercise Agreement or (ii) if the resale of the Warrant
Shares by the holder is not then registered pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") (or, after the registration statement covering the Warrant
Shares is declared effective, sales of the Warrant Shares may not be made
thereunder for any reason other than a breach by the holder of its obligations
under Section 4(a) or 4(b) of the Registration Rights Agreement), delivery to
the Company of a written notice of an election to effect a "Cashless Exercise"
(as defined in Section 13(c) below) for the Warrant Shares specified in the
Exercise Agreement. The Warrant Shares so purchased shall be deemed to be issued
to the holder hereof or such holder's designee, as the record owner of such
shares, as of the close of business on the date on which this Warrant shall have
been surrendered, the completed Exercise Agreement shall have been delivered,
and payment shall have been made for such shares (or an election to effect a
Cashless Exercise has been made) as set forth above. Certificates for the
Warrant Shares so purchased, representing the aggregate number of shares
specified in the Exercise Agreement, shall be delivered to the holder hereof
within a reasonable time, not exceeding two (2) trading days, after this Warrant
shall have been so exercised. The certificates so delivered shall be in such
denominations as may be requested by the holder hereof and shall be registered
in the name of such holder or such other name as shall be designated by such
holder. If this Warrant shall have been exercised only in part, then, unless
this Warrant has expired, the Company shall, at its expense, at the time of
delivery of such certificates, deliver to the holder a new Warrant representing
the number of shares with respect to which this Warrant shall not then have been
exercised.

      Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant to the contrary, in no event
shall the Holder of this Warrant be entitled to exercise a number of Warrants
(or portions thereof) in excess of the number of Warrants (or portions thereof)
upon exercise of which the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates (other than shares of Common
Stock which may be deemed beneficially owned through the ownership of the
unexercised Warrants and the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other
securities of the Company (including the shares of Series E Preferred Stock (as
defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) subject to a limitation on
conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein) and (ii)
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (or
portions thereof) with respect to which the determination described herein is
being made, would result in beneficial ownership by the Holder and its
affiliates of more than 4.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. For
purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be
determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and Regulation 13D-G thereunder, except

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

as otherwise provided in clause (i) hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the limitation on exercise of this Warrant set forth
herein may not be amended without (i) the written consent of the holder hereof
and the Company and (ii) the approval of a majority of shareholders of the
Company.

      2. PERIOD OF EXERCISE. This Warrant is exercisable at any time or from
time to time on or after the date on which this Warrant is issued and delivered
pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Issue Date")
and before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the
Issue Date (the "Exercise Period").

      3. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby covenants and
agrees as follows:

          (a) SHARES TO BE FULLY PAID. All Warrant Shares will, upon issuance in
accordance with the terms of this Warrant, be validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens, and charges with respect to the
issue thereof.

          (b) RESERVATION OF SHARES. During the Exercise Period, the Company
shall at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance
upon exercise of this Warrant, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to
provide for the exercise of this Warrant.

          (c) LISTING. The Company shall promptly secure the listing of the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant upon each national
securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, upon which shares of
Common Stock are then listed (subject to official notice of issuance upon
exercise of this Warrant) and shall maintain, so long as any other shares of
Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing of all shares of Common Stock from
time to time issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant; and the Company shall
so list on each national securities exchange or automated quotation system, as
the case may be, and shall maintain such listing of, any other shares of capital
stock of the Company issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant if and so long
as any shares of the same class shall be listed on such national securities
exchange or automated quotation system.

          (d) CERTAIN ACTIONS PROHIBITED. The Company will not, by amendment of
its charter or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action,
avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be
observed or performed by it hereunder, but will at all times in good faith
assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and in the
taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by the holder of this
Warrant in order to protect the exercise privilege of the holder of this Warrant
against dilution or other impairment, consistent with the tenor and purpose of
this Warrant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i)
will not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon
the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, and (ii)
will take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.

          (e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Warrant will be binding upon any
entity succeeding to the Company by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of all
or substantially all the Company's assets.

     4. ANTIDILUTION PROVISIONS. During the Exercise Period, the Exercise Price
and the number of Warrant Shares shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time as provided in this Paragraph 4.

     In the event that any adjustment of the Exercise Price as required herein
results in a fraction of a cent, such Exercise Price shall be rounded up to the
nearest cent.

          (a) ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF SHARES UPON ISSUANCE OF
COMMON STOCK. Except as otherwise provided in Paragraphs 4(c) and 4(e) hereof,
if and whenever on or after the Issue Date of this Warrant, the Company issues
or sells, or in accordance with Paragraph 4(b) hereof is deemed to have issued
or sold, any shares of Common Stock for no consideration or for a consideration
per share (before deduction of reasonable expenses or commissions or
underwriting discounts or allowances in connection therewith) less than the
Market Price (as hereinafter defined) in effect on the date of issuance (or
deemed issuance) of such Common Stock (a "Dilutive Issuance"), then immediately
upon the Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price will be reduced to a price
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
Dilutive Issuance by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is an amount equal
to the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock actually outstanding
immediately prior to the Dilutive Issuance, plus (y) the quotient of the
aggregate consideration, calculated as set forth in Paragraph 4(b) hereof,
received by the Company upon such Dilutive Issuance divided by the Market Price
in effect immediately prior to the Dilutive Issuance, and (ii) the denominator
of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock Deemed Outstanding (as
defined below) immediately after the Dilutive Issuance. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall the Exercise Price be reduced below $18.91 per
share (the average closing bid price of the Common Stock for the five (5)
consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date
of this Warrant) (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends,
combinations, capital reorganizations and similar events, the "Minimum Exercise
Price") under this Paragraph 4(a) or Paragraph 4(b).

          (b)  EFFECT ON EXERCISE PRICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. For purposes of
determining the adjusted Exercise Price under Paragraph 4(a) hereof, the
following will be applicable:

               (i) ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS OR OPTIONS. If the Company in any manner
issues or grants any warrants, rights or options, whether or not immediately
exercisable, to subscribe for or to purchase Common Stock or other securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock ("Convertible Securities")
(such warrants, rights and options to

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities are hereinafter referred to as
"Options") and the price per share for which Common Stock is issuable upon the
exercise of such Options is less than the Market Price in effect on the date of
issuance or grant of such Options, then the maximum total number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Options will, as of the date
of the issuance or grant of such Options, be deemed to be outstanding and to
have been issued and sold by the Company for such price per share. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, the "price per share for which Common Stock is
issuable upon the exercise of such Options" is determined by dividing (i) the
total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for
the issuance or granting of all such Options, plus the minimum aggregate amount
of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the exercise of
all such Options, plus, in the case of Convertible Securities issuable upon the
exercise of such Options, the minimum aggregate amount of additional
consideration payable upon the conversion or exchange thereof at the time such
Convertible Securities first become convertible or exchangeable, by (ii) the
maximum total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all
such Options (assuming full conversion of Convertible Securities, if
applicable). No further adjustment to the Exercise Price will be made upon the
actual issuance of such Common Stock upon the exercise of such Options or upon
the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of
such Options.

               (ii) ISSUANCE OF CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. If the Company in any
manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities, whether or not immediately
convertible (other than where the same are issuable upon the exercise of
Options) and the price per share for which Common Stock is issuable upon such
conversion or exchange is less than the Market Price in effect on the date of
issuance of such Convertible Securities, then the maximum total number of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of all such Convertible
Securities will, as of the date of the issuance of such Convertible Securities,
be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company for
such price per share. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the "price per
share for which Common Stock is issuable upon such conversion or exchange" is
determined by dividing (i) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by
the Company as consideration for the issuance or sale of all such Convertible
Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if
any, payable to the Company upon the conversion or exchange thereof at the time
such Convertible Securities first become convertible or exchangeable, by (ii)
the maximum total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion
or exchange of all such Convertible Securities. No further adjustment to the
Exercise Price will be made upon the actual issuance of such Common Stock upon
conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

               (iii) CHANGE IN OPTION PRICE OR CONVERSION RATE. If there is a
change at any time in (i) the amount of additional consideration payable to the
Company upon the exercise of any Options; (ii) the amount of additional
consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the conversion or exchange of
any Convertible Securities; or (iii) the rate at which any Convertible
Securities are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than
under or by reason of provisions designed to protect against dilution), the
Exercise Price in effect at the time of such change will be readjusted to the
Exercise Price which would have been

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities still
outstanding provided for such changed additional consideration or changed
conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or
sold.

               (iv) TREATMENT OF EXPIRED OPTIONS AND UNEXERCISED CONVERTIBLE
SECURITIES. If, in any case, the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of any Option or upon conversion or exchange of any Convertible
Securities is not, in fact, issued and the rights to exercise such Option or to
convert or exchange such Convertible Securities shall have expired or
terminated, the Exercise Price then in effect will be readjusted to the Exercise
Price which would have been in effect at the time of such expiration or
termination had such Option or Convertible Securities, to the extent outstanding
immediately prior to such expiration or termination (other than in respect of
the actual number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise or conversion
thereof), never been issued.

               (v) CALCULATION OF CONSIDERATION RECEIVED. If any Common Stock,
Options or Convertible Securities are issued, granted or sold for cash, the
consideration received therefor for purposes of this Warrant will be the amount
received by the Company therefor, before deduction of reasonable commissions,
underwriting discounts or allowances or other reasonable expenses paid or
incurred by the Company in connection with such issuance, grant or sale. In case
any Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a
consideration part or all of which shall be other than cash, the amount of the
consideration other than cash received by the Company will be the fair value of
such consideration, except where such consideration consists of securities, in
which case the amount of consideration received by the Company will be the
Market Price thereof as of the date of receipt. In case any Common Stock,
Options or Convertible Securities are issued in connection with any acquisition,
merger or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation, the
amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such
portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving corporation as is
attributable to such Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the
case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or securities
will be determined in good faith by (a) the Board of Directors of the Company or
(b) at the option of a majority-in-interest of the holders of outstanding
Warrants, an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing.

               (vi) EXCEPTIONS TO ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. No adjustment to
the Exercise Price will be made (i) upon the exercise of any warrants, options
or convertible securities granted, issued and outstanding on the date of
issuance of this Warrant; (ii) upon the grant or exercise of any stock or
options which may hereafter be granted or exercised under any employee benefit
plan of the Company now existing or to be implemented in the future, so long as
the issuance of such stock or options is approved by a majority of the
independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company or a majority of
the members of a committee of independent directors established for such
purpose; (iii) upon the exercise of the Warrants; or (iv) upon the issuance of
securities in a firm commitment underwritten public offering (excluding a
continuous offering pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act).

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

          (c) SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF COMMON STOCK. If the Company at any
time subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
reorganization, reclassification or otherwise) the shares of Common Stock
acquirable hereunder into a greater number of shares, then, after the date of
record for effecting such subdivision, the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. If the Company at any
time combines (by reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization,
reclassification or otherwise) the shares of Common Stock acquirable hereunder
into a smaller number of shares, then, after the date of record for effecting
such combination, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
combination will be proportionately increased.

          (d) ADJUSTMENT IN NUMBER OF SHARES. Upon each event requiring an
adjustment of the Exercise Price pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph 4
(or each event which would require such adjustment but for the provisions of
Section 4(a) hereof relating to the Minimum Exercise Price), the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted
by multiplying a number equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such adjustment by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the
product so obtained by the adjusted Exercise Price (or the amount which such
adjusted Exercise Price would equal but for the provisions of Section 4(a)
hereof relating to the Minimum Exercise Price).

          (e) CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE. If, at any time when this Warrant
is issued and outstanding and prior to the full exercise thereof, any capital
reorganization, reclassification or similar transaction involving the capital
stock of the Company, or any consolidation, merger or business combination of
the Company with another Person (as defined below), or the sale, conveyance or
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, shall be
effected in such a way that holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
stock or securities of the Company or another entity or assets (including cash)
with respect to or in exchange for shares of the Common Stock (a "Reorganization
Event"), then, prior to and as a condition of such Reorganization Event, lawful
and adequate provision shall be made whereby the holder shall thereafter have
the right to receive upon exercise of this Warrant, upon the basis and upon the
terms and conditions specified herein, and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock
immediately theretofore issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, such shares of
stock, securities or assets (including cash) which the holder would have been
entitled to receive in such Reorganization Event had the Warrant been exercised
in full immediately prior to such Reorganization Event (without regard to any
limitations on exercise set forth herein other than the provisions of Section
4(a) hereof relating to the Minimum Exercise Price, as such Minimum Exercise
Price may be adjusted pursuant to Section 4(c) and Section 4(e)). In any such
case, appropriate provision shall be made with respect to the rights and
interests of the holder of this Warrant to the end that the provisions hereof
(including, without limitation, provisions for adjustment of the Exercise Price
and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant)
shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be practicable, in relation to
any stock, securities or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of this
Warrant. The Company shall not effect any such Reorganization Event unless prior
to or simultaneously with the consummation thereof the resulting successor or
acquiring entity (if other than the

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

Company) and, if an entity different from the successor or acquiring entity, the
entity (if other than the Company) whose capital stock or assets the holders of
Common Stock are entitled to receive as a result of such Reorganization Event,
shall assume by written instrument executed and sent to each holder, the
obligations under this Warrant including an express assumption by such required
entity or entities, as applicable, of the due and punctual performance and
observance of every provision herein to be performed and observed by the Company
and of all liabilities and obligations of the Company under this Warrant. The
Company shall also not effect any such Reorganization Event if the Company, as
opposed to another party to the Reorganization Event, shall be required under
any circumstances to make a cash payment at any time to any holder of Warrants,
including, without limitation, in connection with the exercise of any applicable
dissenter's rights. The Company shall not effect any such Reorganization Event
unless it first gives, to the extent practical, thirty (30) days' prior written
notice (but in any event at least fifteen (15) business days prior written
notice) of the record date of the special meeting of stockholders to approve, or
if there is no such record date, the consummation of, such Reorganization Event
(during which time the holder shall be entitled to exercise this Warrant). The
above provisions shall similarly apply to successive Reorganization Events.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust or other entity or organization.

          (f) DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In case the Company shall declare or make
any distribution of its assets (including cash) to holders of Common Stock as a
partial liquidating dividend, by way of return of capital or otherwise, then,
after the date of record for determining stockholders entitled to such
distribution, but prior to the date of distribution, the holder of this Warrant
shall be entitled upon exercise of this Warrant for the purchase of any or all
of the shares of Common Stock subject hereto, to receive the amount of such
assets which would have been payable to the holder had such holder been the
holder of such shares of Common Stock on the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to such distribution.

          (g) NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT. Upon the occurrence of any event which
requires any adjustment of the Exercise Price, then, and in each such case, the
Company shall give notice thereof to the holder of this Warrant, which notice
shall state the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase
or decrease in the number of Warrant Shares purchasable at such price upon
exercise, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the
facts upon which such calculation is based. Such calculation shall be certified
by the chief financial officer of the Company.

          (h) MINIMUM ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. No adjustment of the
Exercise Price shall be made in an amount of less than 1% of the Exercise Price
in effect at the time such adjustment is otherwise required to be made, but any
such lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time
and together with the next subsequent adjustment which, together with any
adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to not less than 1% of such
Exercise Price.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

          (i) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to
be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but the Company shall pay a cash
adjustment in respect of any fractional share which would otherwise be issuable
in an amount equal to the same fraction of the Market Price of a share of Common
Stock on the date of such exercise.

          (j)  OTHER NOTICES. In case at any time:

               (i) the Company shall declare any dividend upon the Common Stock
payable in shares of stock of any class or make any other distribution
(including dividends or distributions payable in cash out of retained earnings)
to the holders of the Common Stock;

               (ii) the Company shall offer for subscription pro rata to the
holders of the Common Stock any additional shares of stock of any class or other
rights;

               (iii) there shall be any capital reorganization of the Company,
or reclassification of the Common Stock, or consolidation or merger of the
Company with or into, or sale of all or substantially all its assets to, another
corporation or entity; or

               (iv) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the holder of this Warrant
(a) notice of the date on which the books of the Company shall close or a record
shall be taken for determining the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive
any such dividend, distribution, or subscription rights or for determining the
holders of Common Stock entitled to vote in respect of any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up and (b) in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, notice of
the date (or, if not then known, a reasonable approximation thereof by the
Company) when the same shall take place. Such notice shall also specify the date
on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution, or subscription rights or to exchange their Common Stock for stock
or other securities or property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation, or
winding-up, as the case may be. Such notice shall be given at least 30 days
prior to the record date or the date on which the Company's books are closed in
respect thereto. Failure to give any such notice or any defect therein shall not
affect the validity of the proceedings referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii)
and (iv) above.

          (k) CERTAIN EVENTS. If any event occurs of the type contemplated by
the adjustment provisions of this Paragraph 4 but not expressly provided for by
such provisions, the Company will give notice of such event as provided in
Paragraph 4(g) hereof, and the Company's Board of Directors will make an
appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common
Stock acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant so that the rights of the Holder
shall be neither enhanced nor diminished by such event.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

          (l)  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

               (i) "COMMON STOCK DEEMED OUTSTANDING" shall mean the number of
shares of Common Stock actually outstanding (not including shares of Common
Stock held in the treasury of the Company), plus (x) pursuant to Paragraph
4(b)(i) hereof, the maximum total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of Options, as of the date of such issuance or grant of such
Options, if any, and (y) pursuant to Paragraph 4(b)(ii) hereof, the maximum
total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of
Convertible Securities, as of the date of issuance of such Convertible
Securities, if any.

               (ii) "MARKET PRICE," as of any date, (i) means the average of the
last reported sale prices for the shares of Common Stock on the Nasdaq National
Market (the "NNM") for the five (5) trading days immediately preceding such date
as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets or an equivalent reliable reporting
service mutually acceptable to and hereafter designated by the holder of this
Warrant and the Company ("Bloomberg"), or (ii) if the NNM is not the principal
trading market for the shares of Common Stock, the average of the last reported
sale prices on the principal trading market for the Common Stock during the same
period as reported by Bloomberg, or (iii) if market value cannot be calculated
as of such date on any of the foregoing bases, the Market Price shall be the
fair market value as reasonably determined in good faith by (a) the Board of
Directors of the Corporation or (b) at the option of a majority-in-interest of
the holders of the outstanding Warrants, an independent investment bank of
nationally recognized standing in the valuation of businesses similar to the
business of the corporation. The manner of determining the Market Price of the
Common Stock set forth in the foregoing definition shall apply with respect to
any other security in respect of which a determination as to market value must
be made hereunder.

               (iii) "COMMON STOCK," for purposes of this Paragraph 4, includes
the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and any additional class of stock
of the Company having no preference as to dividends or distributions on
liquidation, provided that the shares purchasable pursuant to this Warrant shall
include only shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, in respect of
which this Warrant is exercisable, or shares resulting from any subdivision or
combination of such Common Stock, or in the case of any reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, or sale of the character referred to in
Paragraph 4(e) hereof, the stock or other securities or property provided for in
such Paragraph.

     5. ISSUE TAX. The issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the holder of this
Warrant or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any
certificate in a name other than the holder of this Warrant.

     6. NO RIGHTS OR LIABILITIES AS A SHAREHOLDER. This Warrant shall not
entitle the holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder
of the Company. No

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

provision of this Warrant, in the absence of affirmative action by the holder
hereof to purchase Warrant Shares, and no mere enumeration herein of the rights
or privileges of the holder hereof, shall give rise to any liability of such
holder for the Exercise Price or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such
liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

     7.   TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, AND REPLACEMENT OF WARRANT.

          (a) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER. This Warrant and the rights granted to
the holder hereof are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this
Warrant, together with a properly executed assignment in the form attached
hereto, at the office or agency of the Company referred to in Paragraph 7(e)
below, provided, however, that any transfer or assignment shall be subject to
the conditions set forth in Paragraph 7(f) hereof and to the applicable
provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreement. Until due presentment for
registration of transfer on the books of the Company, the Company may treat the
registered holder hereof as the owner and holder hereof for all purposes, and
the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the registration rights described in
Paragraph 8 are assignable only in accordance with the provisions of that
certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2000, by and
among the Company and the other signatories thereto (the "Registration Rights
Agreement").

          (b) WARRANT EXCHANGEABLE FOR DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS. This Warrant is
exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the holder hereof at the office or
agency of the Company referred to in Paragraph 7(e) below, for new Warrants of
like tenor representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of
shares of Common Stock which may be purchased hereunder, each of such new
Warrants to represent the right to purchase such number of shares as shall be
designated by the holder hereof at the time of such surrender.

          (c) REPLACEMENT OF WARRANT. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of
this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft, or destruction, upon
delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and amount to
the Company, or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and
cancellation of this Warrant, the Company, at its expense, will execute and
deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

          (d) CANCELLATION; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Upon the surrender of this
Warrant in connection with any transfer, exchange, or replacement as provided in
this Paragraph 7, this Warrant shall be promptly canceled by the Company. The
Company shall pay all taxes (other than securities transfer taxes) and all other
expenses (other than legal expenses, if any, incurred by the Holder or
transferees) and charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution,
and delivery of Warrants pursuant to this Paragraph 7.

          (e) REGISTER. The Company shall maintain, at its principal executive
offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by
notice to the holder hereof), a register for this Warrant, in which the Company
shall record the name and

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

address of the person in whose name this Warrant has been issued, as well as the
name and address of each transferee and each prior owner of this Warrant.

          (f) EXERCISE OR TRANSFER WITHOUT REGISTRATION. If, at the time of the
surrender of this Warrant in connection with any exercise, transfer, or exchange
of this Warrant, this Warrant (or, in the case of any exercise, the Warrant
Shares issuable hereunder), shall not be registered under the Securities Act and
under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, the Company may require, as
a condition of allowing such exercise, transfer, or exchange, (i) that the
holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, furnish to the Company
a written opinion of counsel, in form, substance and scope customary for
opinions of counsel in comparable transactions, to the effect that such
exercise, transfer, or exchange may be made without registration under said Act
and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, (ii) that the holder or
transferee execute and deliver to the Company an investment letter in form and
substance acceptable to the Company and (iii) that the transferee be an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities
Act; provided that no such opinion, letter or status as an "accredited investor"
shall be required in connection with a transfer pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act. The first holder of this Warrant, by taking and holding the
same, represents to the Company that such holder is acquiring this Warrant for
investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof.

     8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The initial holder of this Warrant (and certain
assignees thereof) is entitled to the benefit of such registration rights in
respect of the Warrant Shares as are set forth in Section 2 of the Registration
Rights Agreement.

     9. FORCED EXERCISE. Subject to the limitations on exercise set forth in
Section 1 and so long as for at all times during the period beginning thirty
(30) trading days prior to the Forced Exercise Trigger Date (as defined below)
and ending on the Company Exercise Date (as defined below) (i) all of the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are then (x) authorized
and reserved for issuance, (y) registered for re-sale under the Securities Act
by the holder of this Warrant and sales of such shares may be made thereunder
(or such shares may otherwise be resold publicly without restriction (including
without limitation as to volume)) and (z) eligible to be traded on the NNM, the
NYSE, the AMEX or Nasdaq SmallCap (each as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) and (ii) there is not then a continuing Redemption Event (as defined
in the Certificate of Designation (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) (the "Certificate of Designation")), then, at any time after the
twenty-four (24) month anniversary of the date the Registration Statement
required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights
Agreement is declared effective by the SEC (subject to extension for each
trading day following effectiveness that sales of all of the Registrable
Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) cannot be made
pursuant to the Registration Statement (whether by reason of the Company's
failure to properly supplement or amend the prospectus included therein in
accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, during an
Allowed Delay (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or otherwise)),
the Company shall have the right within five (5) trading days of any trading day
(a "Forced Exercise Trigger Date") on which, and for a period of thirty (30)

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

consecutive trading days prior thereto, the Closing Bid Price (as defined in the
Certificate of Designation) of the Common Stock is greater than 175% of the
Exercise Price (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and
similar transactions), to deliver written notice (the "Company Exercise Notice")
to the holder of this Warrant (which notice may not be sent to the holders of
this Warrant (a) until the Company is permitted to exercise this Warrant
pursuant to this Section 9 and (b) during any period of time in which the
Company is in possession of any information, the disclosure of which could cause
a material increase in the Market Price of the Company's Common Stock) of its
intention to exercise this Warrant in accordance with this Section 9 and Section
1; provided, however, that a Company Exercise shall not be permitted if during
the period beginning on the date the Company Exercise Notice is delivered to the
holder of this Warrant and ending on the trading day prior to the Company
Exercise Date the average Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock during such
period is not greater than 175% of the Exercise Price (subject to adjustment for
stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions). Any exercise hereunder
(a "Company Exercise") shall be as of the date (the "Company Exercise Date")
specified in the Company Exercise Notice (but in no event prior to the thirtieth
(30) trading day following the date of such notice). The Company Exercise Notice
shall be delivered to the holder of this Warrant at its registered addresses
appearing on the books and records of the Company, which notice shall contain
substantially the same information as the Exercise Agreement described in
Section 1.

     10. MAJOR TRANSACTION REDEMPTION. So long as for all times during the
period beginning thirty (30) trading days prior to the date of the Major
Transaction Redemption Notice (as defined below) and ending on the Major
Transaction Redemption Date (as defined below) (i) all of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are then (x) authorized and
reserved for issuance, (y) registered for resale under the Securities Act by the
holder and sales of such shares may be made thereunder (or such shares may
otherwise be resold publicly without restriction (including without limitation
as to volume)) and (z) eligible to be traded on the Nasdaq, the Nasdaq SmallCap,
the NYSE or the AMEX and (ii) no Redemption Event (as defined in the Certificate
of Designation) shall have occurred and be continuing, then, in the event the
Company publicly announces its intention to consummate a Major Transaction (as
defined below), the Company shall have the right to deliver written notice to
the holder of its intention to redeem this Warrant in accordance with this
Section 10. Any notice (the "Major Transaction Redemption Notice") of redemption
hereunder (a "Major Transaction Redemption") shall be delivered to the holder at
its registered address appearing on the books and records of the Company and
shall state (1) that the Company is exercising its right to redeem this Warrant
and (2) the date of redemption (the "Major Transaction Redemption Date") , which
date shall be (A) at least twenty (20) trading days after the date of delivery
of the Major Transaction Redemption Notice and (B) the date of consummation of
the Major Transaction. In the event that the Major Transaction Notice is
delivered to the holder but the Major Transaction is not consummated, the Major
Transaction Notice shall be deemed to be withdrawn as to such holder. On the
Major Transaction Redemption Date, the Company shall make payment of the Major
Transaction Redemption Amount (as defined below) to or upon the order of the
holder as specified by the holder in writing to the Company at least one (1)
business day prior to the Major Transaction Redemption Date. If the Company
exercises its right to redeem this Warrant pursuant to this

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

Section 10, the Company shall make payment to the holder of an amount in cash
(the "Major Transaction Redemption Amount") equal to the Black-Scholes Amount
(as defined below) for the number of shares of Common Stock subject to this
Warrant. Notwithstanding notice of a Major Transaction Redemption, the holder
shall at all times prior to the Major Transaction Redemption Date maintain the
right to exercise this Warrant at the Exercise Price then in effect (including
any adjustments pursuant to Section 4) and any portion of this Warrant so
exercised after receipt of a Major Transaction Redemption Notice and prior to
the Major Transaction Redemption Date set forth in such notice and payment of
the aggregate Major Transaction Redemption Amount shall be deducted from the
number of Warrants which are otherwise subject to redemption pursuant to such
notice. If the Company delivers a Major Transaction Redemption Notice, the Major
Transaction is consummated and the Company fails to pay the Major Transaction
Redemption Amount due to the holder on the Major Transaction Redemption Date,
the Company (and any successor or acquiring entity) shall forever forfeit its
right to redeem this Warrant pursuant to this Section 10 and such successor or
acquiring entity and, if an entity different from the successor or acquiring
entity, the entity whose capital stock or assets the holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive as a result of such Major Transaction, shall be required to
assume the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with
Section 4(e). "Major Transaction" means a consolidation or merger of the Company
with or into any other corporation or entity (other than a merger in which the
Company is the surviving or continuing corporation and its capital stock is
unchanged) or the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, in each case where the consideration for such transaction consists
entirely of cash or in which the entity whose capital stock or assets the
holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive as a result of such Major
Transaction is not a publicly traded corporation (i.e., the common stock of such
corporation is not traded on Nasdaq, the Nasdaq SmallCap, the NYSE or the AMEX).
"Black-Scholes Amount," as of any date, means the amount determined by
calculating the "Black-Scholes" value of an option to purchase one share of
Common Stock on the applicable page on the Bloomberg online page, using the
following variable values: (i) the current market price of the Common Stock
equal to the closing trade price on the last trading day before the date for
which such amount is being determined (the "Applicable Date"); (ii) volatility
of the Common Stock equal to the volatility of the Common Stock during the
100-trading day period preceding the Applicable Date; (iii) a risk free rate
equal to the yield of the United States treasury bill or treasury note with a
maturity corresponding to the remaining term of the Warrants on the Applicable
Date; and (iv) an exercise price equal to the Exercise Price on the Applicable
Date. In the event such calculation function is no longer available utilizing
the Bloomberg online page, such calculation shall be made using the closest
available alternative mechanism and variable values to those available utilizing
the Bloomberg online page for such calculation function. For purposes of this
Section 10, the "Applicable Date" shall be the Major Transaction Redemption
Date.

     11. NOTICES. All notices, requests, and other communications required or
permitted to be given or delivered hereunder to the holder of this Warrant shall
be in writing, and shall be personally delivered, or shall be sent by certified
or registered mail or by recognized overnight mail courier, postage prepaid and
addressed, to such holder at the address shown for such holder on the books of
the Company, or at such other address as shall have been furnished

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

to the Company by notice from such holder. All notices, requests, and other
communications required or permitted to be given or delivered hereunder to the
Company shall be in writing, and shall be personally delivered, or shall be sent
by certified or registered mail or by recognized overnight mail courier, postage
prepaid and addressed, to the office of the Company at 460 Ward Drive, Santa
Barbara, California 93111-2310, Attention: President and Chief Executive
Officer, or at such other address as shall have been furnished to the holder of
this Warrant by notice from the Company. Any such notice, request, or other
communication may be sent by facsimile, but shall in such case be subsequently
confirmed by a writing personally delivered or sent by certified or registered
mail or by recognized overnight mail courier as provided above. All notices,
requests, and other communications shall be deemed to have been given either at
the time of the receipt thereof by the person entitled to receive such notice at
the address of such person for purposes of this Paragraph 11, or, if mailed by
registered or certified mail or with a recognized overnight mail courier upon
deposit with the United States Post Office or such overnight mail courier, if
postage is prepaid and the mailing is properly addressed, as the case may be.

     12. GOVERNING LAW. THIS WARRANT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE
AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICT OF LAWS). BOTH PARTIES IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS AND THE STATE COURTS LOCATED IN
DELAWARE WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING BASED ON OR ARISING UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT, THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY AND IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL
CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY BE DETERMINED IN SUCH COURTS.
BOTH PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE
MAINTENANCE OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. BOTH PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT SERVICE
OF PROCESS UPON A PARTY MAILED BY FIRST CLASS MAIL SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY
RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE PARTY IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR
PROCEEDING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT EITHER PARTY'S RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. BOTH PARTIES AGREE THAT A FINAL
NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND
MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER
LAWFUL MANNER.

     13. MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a) AMENDMENTS. This Warrant and any provision hereof may only be
amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the holder hereof.

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

          (b) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the several
paragraphs of this Warrant are inserted for purposes of reference only, and
shall not affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

          (c) CASHLESS EXERCISE. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Warrant, if the resale of the Warrant Shares by the holder is
not then registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act (or, after the registration statement covering the Warrant Shares
is declared effective, sales of the Warrant Shares may not be made thereunder
for any reason other than a breach by the holder of its obligations under
Section 4(a) or 4(b) of the Registration Rights Agreement), this Warrant may be
exercised by presentation and surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its
principal executive offices with a written notice of the holder's intention to
effect a cashless exercise, including a calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock to be issued upon such exercise in accordance with the terms hereof
(a "Cashless Exercise"). In the event of a Cashless Exercise, in lieu of paying
the Exercise Price in cash, the holder shall surrender this Warrant for that
number of shares of Common Stock determined by multiplying the number of Warrant
Shares to which it would otherwise be entitled by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the difference between the then current Market Price per share of
the Common Stock and the Exercise Price, and the denominator of which shall be
the then current Market Price per share of Common Stock.

          (d) REMEDIES. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its
obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the holder, by vitiating
the intent and purpose of the transaction contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the
Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations
under this Warrant will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Warrant, that the
holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or
in equity, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any
breach of this Warrant and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
thereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or
other security being required.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by its
duly authorized officer.

                                       SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

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

Dated as of September 29, 2000

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

                           FORM OF EXERCISE AGREEMENT

                                        Dated: ________ __, 200_

To: Superconductor Technologies Inc.

     The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the within
Warrant, hereby agrees to purchase ________ shares of Common Stock covered by
such Warrant, and makes payment herewith in full therefor at the price per share
provided by such Warrant in cash or by certified or official bank check in the
amount of, or, if the resale of such Common Stock by the undersigned is not
currently registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or, after the registration statement
covering the Warrant Shares is declared effective, sales of the Warrant Shares
may not be made thereunder for any reason other than a breach by the holder of
its obligations under Section 4(a) or 4(b) of the Registration Rights
Agreement), by surrender of securities issued by the Company (including a
portion of the Warrant) having a market value (in the case of a portion of this
Warrant, determined in accordance with Section 13(c) of the Warrant) equal to
$_________. Please issue a certificate or certificates for such shares of Common
Stock in the name of and pay any cash for any fractional share to:

Name:
      ----------------------------------

Signature:
           -----------------------------

Address:
         -------------------------------

                    Note: The above signature should correspond exactly with the
                    name on the face of the within Warrant.

and, if said number of shares of Common Stock shall not be all the shares
purchasable under the within Warrant, a new Warrant is to be issued in the name
of said undersigned covering the balance of the shares purchasable thereunder
less any fraction of a share paid in cash.

     The undersigned represents and warrants that all offers and sales by the
undersigned of the securities issuable to the undersigned upon exercise of the
within Warrant shall be made pursuant to registration of the securities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or pursuant to an exception
from registration under the Act, and shall be made in compliance with applicable
prospectus delivery requirements.

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and transfers
all the rights of the undersigned under the within Warrant, with respect to the
number of shares of Common Stock covered thereby set forth hereinbelow, to:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name of Assignee                        Address                     No of Shares
----------------                        -------                     ------------
<S>                                     <C>                         <C>

</TABLE>

                , and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ______________
________________________ as agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer said Warrant
on the books of the within-named corporation, with full power of substitution in
the premises.

Dated:             , 200
       ------------     -

In the presence of:

----------------------------------------

Name:
      ----------------------------------

Signature:
           -----------------------------

Title of Signing Officer or Agent (if any):

----------------------------------------

Address:
         -------------------------------

----------------------------------------

                    Note: The above signature should correspond exactly with the
                    name on the face of the within Warrant.

                                       19

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