Many will have heard of this field in the context of repeated excitement over potential “room-temperature” superconductors. However, the existence of such materials, much less their discovery, remains extremely uncertain. The greater opportunity lies in making the most of the materials we currently have. Superconductors are integral to the construction of extremely powerful magnets, which play a crucial role in medical diagnostics and research. These magnets permit high-resolution magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI), which has revolutionised medical diagnostics by enabling biological tissues and processes to be visualised and characterised non-invasively with unprecedented clarity and detail.
Further advances in superconductor technology, such as the development of high-temperature superconductors that can generate higher magnetic fields and enable new magnet configurations with smaller-footprint designs, will bring about significant improvements. These advancements will not only lead to a wider diffusion of MRI as a diagnostic tool due to more accessible and compact systems but also enhance imaging capabilities with higher fields. That in turn will facilitate better understanding, diagnosis and treatments: for example, being able to explore brain function at the cellular level will advance neurological medicine. High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also uses superconducting magnets, in this case for understanding the structure, dynamics and function of complex proteins; this is essential to the development of vaccines and other medical treatments.
Similarly, in oncology, progress in superconductor technology could expand access to advanced cancer-treatment modalities. For example, conventional radiotherapy relies on X-rays or gamma rays to destroy tumours, but these are difficult to direct precisely. Hadron therapy, by contrast, uses beams of charged particles such as protons or light ions. These can be more easily directed to precisely deliver radiation to cancerous tissues while sparing adjacent healthy tissues, offering patients a more effective and tolerable treatment option. However, making such charged particles currently requires large and unwieldy particle accelerators, which has limited the adoption of hadron therapy despite its proven effectiveness. Ongoing research and development effort aims to leverage advances in superconducting magnet technologies to design more compact, efficient and cost-effective systems, paving the way to hadron therapy becoming a mainstream treatment modality.
Superconductivity also holds immense potential for sustainable energy solutions in the pursuit of the transition towards a low-carbon future. The fusion of atomic nuclei could produce vast amounts of clean and abundant energy with minimal environmental impact. However, achieving this in a controlled way is a formidable and long-standing scientific and engineering challenge. The industrial maturity of high-temperature superconductors, capable of generating exceptionally strong magnetic fields, has reinvigorated interest and investment in fusion-energy research, with more than $4bn invested in private companies since 2021. According to the 2023 report of the Fusion Industry Association, compact reactors could begin to deliver commercial fusion power as early as the 2030s.
Superconducting technologies could also transform the efficiency and sustainability of power transmission and distribution systems. Superconducting cables, capable of carrying up to 10 times more power than conventional conductors of the same size, provide a cost-effective and space-efficient means of upgrading existing grid infrastructure to accommodate higher power loads and mitigate the risks of grid congestion and power outages. This capability is particularly relevant in the context of renewable-energy integration, where the intermittent nature of sources such as wind and solar power necessitates robust, efficient and flexible grid systems. In the context of urbanisation and smart-city development, superconductivity has the potential to enhance power-distribution capacity and meet the growing demands of electric mobility and sustainable urban infrastructure.
By enabling the generation of clean energy, enhancing the efficiency of power transmission and distribution, and supporting advanced smart-grid technologies, superconductors can contribute to the realisation of resilient, efficient and sustainable energy ecosystems that support economic growth, environmental stewardship and social equity. However, superconductor technologies, despite their remarkable promise, present a significant challenge: they operate only at temperatures between -269°C and -196°C, depending on the specific application at hand. This has long been an obstacle to their widespread, large-scale adoption — but now the potential adoption of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy carrier holds promise for facilitating the use of superconductors. Liquid hydrogen also demands cryogenic storage at exceptionally low temperatures (-253°C) to maintain its liquid state. Consequently, the adoption of liquid hydrogen as an energy carrier will drive the widespread development of cryogenic infrastructures that can also be utilised to cool down superconductors.
For example, in energy transmission networks, hydrogen and electricity could be transported together using liquid-hydrogen-cooled superconducting cables, maximising efficiency and reducing costs. Additionally, as part of initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the aviation sector, leading aerospace manufacturers are actively exploring the feasibility of integrating superconducting motors into future aircraft designs powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Leveraging the cold source provided by liquid hydrogen fuel, these systems would offer the added benefit of cooling the superconductors at no extra cost.
Superconductivity could also enable the development of more powerful and lightweight electric motors, with the potential to revolutionise the design and performance of electric aircraft, trains and ships. For example, the conventional permanent magnets used in electric propulsion systems could be substituted with superconducting coils. This would significantly enhance power output while reducing weight and energy consumption, not only improving the efficiency of electric transportation systems but also reducing our dependence on the rare-earth elements currently used. Such elements are sourced from a limited number of countries, posing a substantial risk to the global supply chain.
In conclusion, the mainstreaming of superconductivity holds immense potential for generating socio-economic benefits and addressing global challenges across diverse domains aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and thus for the realisation of a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable future for all.
However, realising this potential requires sustained investments in research and development, supportive policies and strategic collaborations across academia, industry and government to overcome technical, economic and regulatory barriers and unlock the full promise of this remarkable technology. Specifically, investments should be directed towards both basic research and scale-up industrialisation. Basic research is crucial for understanding the fundamental mechanisms and discovering new superconductors, with the dream of reaching room-temperature superconductivity. Concurrently, investments should foster the scaling up and industrialisation of technologies that have been demonstrated. This ensures that the current and potential achievements of superconductors extend well beyond the anticipation of a room-temperature breakthrough, offering tangible solutions to pressing global challenges.
