superconductor

noun

su·​per·​con·​duc·​tor ˌsü-pər-kən-ˈdək-tər 

plural superconductors

: a substance that exhibits no electrical resistance : a substance exhibiting superconductivity

Add a layer of aluminum oxide to a crystal made of neatly stacked soccer-ball shaped carbon molecules known as buckyballs, and the result is a superconductor that effortlessly carries electricity at relatively warm temperatures.

—Kenneth Chang

Examples of superconductor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The invasion of Taiwan—an economic powerhouse where over 90 percent of the world's superconductors are produced—would set off a global chain reaction, explains Professor of Chinese Studies Kerry Brown in Why Taiwan Matters: A Short History of the Island That Will Dictate Our Future (St. Martin's). —Kerry Brown, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

The delicacy of the quantum state makes the aforementioned super cold superconductor circuits and ultra-high-vacuum chambers necessary. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 22 Jan. 2025

Then, in 2018, a new superconductor opened physicists’ eyes wider. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025

In materials science, quantum simulations could lead to the discovery of new materials with transformative properties, from superconductors to advanced batteries. —Sandy Carter, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above