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Please tell me name of some metals or alloys which behave as superconductors at room temperature or above.
Question Date: 2004-06-02
Answer 1:

As far as I know, there are no confirmed superconductors that operate at room temperature. When superconductivity was first discovered, it was at temperatures just barely above absolute zero (-273 Celsius). These temperatures could only be achieved using liquid helium. Over the years, other materials were found, and the next big milestone when superconductivity could be achieved at 77 Kelvin or higher, since 77 Kelvin is the temperature of liquid nitrogen (much more available and cheaper than liquid helium). I think since then, superconductivity can be achieved at temperatures around 125 K. A few years ago, I remember hearing reports of room temperature superconductivity on materials composed of nanotubes, but I'm not sure those have ever been successfully substantiated.



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