Laura H. Greene, Swanlund Professor of Physics, Center for Emergent Superconductivity (an Energy Frontier Research Center), Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Superconductivity was discovered in 1911. Although significant technological advances were realized by the early 1960s, including power transmission cables and levitated trains, there has not been broad applications for two reasons. First, superconductivity could only be achieved when the materials were cooled to extremely low temperatures, and second, the materials were costly and expensive to manufacture into working devices. The first argument was addressed 1986 and again in 2008 when two classes of high-temperature superconductors were discovered. These are fascinating states matter, and as "playgrounds for broken symmetries" have generated a worldwide flurry of research. Although there have been significant advances in our basic understanding, we do not yet understand the mechanism nor have they transformed our power grid. There are now world wide searches for new high-temperature superconductors, particularly as emergent phases arising from strongly competing phases, with the goal to impact our energy challenge for the 21st century.