Research from North Carolina State University finds that
impurities can hurt performance – or possibly provide benefits – in a key
superconductive material that is expected to find use in a host of
applications, including future particle colliders. The size of the impurities
determines whether they help or hinder the material’s performance.
At issue is a superconductive material called bismuth
strontium calcium copper oxide (Bi2212). A superconductor is a material that
can carry electricity without any loss – none of the energy is dissipated as
heat, for example. Superconductive materials are currently used in medical MRI
technology, and are expected to play a prominent role in emerging power
technologies.