Development Status and Prospects of Superconducting Materials for Electric Power Applications

Abstract

Superconducting material is a typical quantum material that features unique zero-resistance and Meissner effects. With the introduction of superconducting materials, numerous disruptive technologies in electric power applications, such as ultra-strong magnetic fields and large-capacity power transmission, can be realized, which makes the fabrication technique of large-current-capacity superconducting materials the frontier field worldwide. This study summarizes the development status of superconducting materials for electric power application as well as their fabrication techniques, and clarifies the development trends of several practical superconducting materials, including low-temperature superconducting materials (e. g., NbTi and Nb3Sn) and high-temperature superconducting materials (e.g., YBCO coated conductors, Bi-2223 tapes, Bi-2212 wires, and MgB2 wires). Considering the problems existing in the development of the superconducting materials for electric power application in China, it is imperative to establish a high-performance superconducting material system that satisfies varied electric power application requirements to achieve the integrated development of superconducting materials and electric power application products and to promote the innovation and industrial scale of these materials and applications. Furthermore, we suggest that the integrated development of production, education, research, and application should be promoted in the national level to upgrade the low-temperature superconducting material industry and achieve breakthroughs in batch production of high-temperature superconducting materials, thereby realizing the rapid development of superconducting materials for electric power application.

Keywords

• low-temperature superconducting materials
• high-temperature superconducting materials
• superconducting wires and tapes
• fabrication technique