Superconductivity breakthrough could unlock ultra-efficient electronics

Superconductors could one day help power a new generation of ultra-efficient electronics, but major technical hurdles have kept the technology largely confined to research labs. Now, scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a new approach that tackles one of the field's biggest challenges: maintaining superconductivity at higher temperatures while also resisting strong magnetic fields.

The advance could help move superconducting technologies closer to practical use in electronics, energy systems, and quantum devices.

Modern digital devices, data centers, and information and communications technology (ICT) networks are responsible for an estimated 6 to 12 percent of global electricity consumption. As energy demand continues to rise, researchers are searching for ways to make electronics far more efficient.

Superconductors are particularly attractive because they can carry electrical current with no energy loss. Unlike conventional electronic systems, which waste energy as heat, superconductors can transmit electricity without resistance. In theory, this could make power grids, electronics, and quantum technologies hundreds of times more efficient.

Despite their promise, superconductors face several obstacles that limit their real-world applications.

One challenge is temperature. Many superconductors only work at extremely low temperatures, often around minus 200 degrees Celsius. Reaching and maintaining such temperatures requires complex and energy-intensive cooling systems.

Magnetic fields present another major problem. Strong magnetic fields can weaken or even eliminate superconductivity. This is particularly important because many advanced electronic systems and quantum technologies either generate or rely on magnetic fields.

To become practical for widespread use, superconducting materials must be able to operate at higher temperatures (ideally close to room temperature) while remaining stable in strong magnetic environments.

Researchers have spent years trying to improve superconductors by altering their chemical composition, but progress has been limited. The Chalmers team decided to take a different approach.

"By sculpting the surface that the superconductor rests on, we were able to induce superconductivity at significantly higher temperatures than previously possible. We also found that the material remained superconducting even when exposed to strong magnetic fields," explains Floriana Lombardi, Professor of Quantum Device Physics at Chalmers and lead author of a study published in Nature Communications.