Earlier quoted context omitted.
They are also very good energy storage media. Combine that with zero transmission losses - you can now highly efficient EV powertrains that are significantly more compact. 1000 mile EVs become actually viable. Secondly, superconductors are one of the most promising platforms for qubits. Big boost for quantum computing - and these are just two applications off the top off my head.
Can you point to a source of these superconducting energy storage mechanisms? How do they work? I briefly looked into it and found out that at least the current ones have very high power density, but low energy density.
A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
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Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hmm. Losses from HVDC transmission are on the order of 3% per 1000km, so I'm not sure how much of a big deal it'd be for that kind of use case. Your example would only save ~6% transmission losses. An improvement yes but not really a big deal, unless the cables were far cheaper to make than current HVDC cables (which I'm doubtful about). I think there are other use cases within devices themselves that are far more in…
3% but keep in mind they can only push so much current through those wires before they start losing energy to heat, regardless of the voltage. The same cable diameter can now power an entire state.
Superconductors have a critical field, you can't pump unlimited amounts of current through a superconductor.
(I think there were some comments going around that this material has quite a low critical field, so there would have to be some substantial improvements on this even if it is superconducting)
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#73I still have a very, very hard time understanding what all of this means. Is there an easy to understand explanation for a room temperature superconductor?
It's a conductor of electricity. But super good at it. i.e. - It has zero resistance to electricity. Currently, the best superconducting materials we can create have to be chilled to near absolute zero, which means designing them to work in liquid helium baths. This is expensive, and difficult. If a material can superconduct at room temperature, now we're talking usage in general purpose consumer goods. As for why we…
Superconductor means low resistance. Low resistance means less loss due to heat on a wire. Room temperature superconductor also means more efficient magnets for motors, coils, ending up in cars, MRI machines, etc.
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
And a great many people also want you to believe. Just remember: don't give anyone any money, not until this is properly verified.
Who could you possibly give money for this? It's not like there's a as-seen-on-TV ad for superconductors. But I agree that it needs a healthy dose of skepticism until several reputable groups have replicated it.
No one’s selling a retail product now, but there’s definitely going to be investors speculatively pushing money into the space
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm sure Elon also has SpaceX or something trying to replicate it as well. He sort of has to jump on each new trend anyhow. In a serious note, superconductors are likely useful in electric magnetic motors and probably in high power electronics and batteries in general, no?
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He'd also name another child XLK99.
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#76This is exciting, but I try to maintain my composure. Good luck to all involved. I didn’t know science could be such a thrilling spectator sport.
It almost feels like we're back in the days of Lavoisier. Scientists staging elaborate public experiments, blowing things up to support or debunk a popular theory. Deadly rivalries, publicity stunts, each new development a matter of personal, institutional, and national hubris.
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#77New replication video coming from China https://twitter.com/lereguy/status/1686363900651151360
I have seen three now from China alone. Plus a calculation from some respected institute from today that confirms the theory
Throughout this whole saga I've had this feeling that at the very least we can rely on China to really pursue this new development to it's logical end. It's kind of sad, but I don't think I can say the same about the US at this moment. You know for a fact China's going to JUMP on this, figure out if it works or not, and iterate.
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#78I still have a very, very hard time understanding what all of this means. Is there an easy to understand explanation for a room temperature superconductor?
Think your EV is so efficient that you only need to charge it once every 5000 miles.
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#79I still have a very, very hard time understanding what all of this means. Is there an easy to understand explanation for a room temperature superconductor?
Ever seen one of these high school science demos?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWojYBhvfjM Now imagine one where you don't have to chill it with liquid nitrogen.
A huge renaissance in desk toys, at the very least!
Re: A room-temperature superconductor? New developments
#80I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thought that the DFT computational preprints were very promising. Unfortunately, they also indicate that the desired substitution will be very hard to achieve — crucially, the "crush and separate the composite" suggestion a few commenters have made is unlikely to work, since the heterogeneity exists within the same crystal, depending on whether Cu substitutes into Pb {1}…
Kinda? You'd expect flat bands from putting a copper atom into a big insulating supercell. The population of the d band is interesting, though. I don't find it super super compelling, but it's certainly not nothing.