Is a Room Temperature Superconductor Achievable?

[ronaldoshaky]

Do you think its possible...

to find a superconductor that will have a critical temperature above room temperature?

 

[Cthugha]

Yes, I think it will be possible. I suppose it will be a rather unconventional mechanism, but it should be possible. Whether it is also useful for applications is, however, a completely different subject.

See for example "Exciton-polariton mediated superconductivity" by Laussy et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., 104, 106402 (2010)) for a rather exotic approach.
The paper can also be found on Arxiv:
http://arxiv.org/abs/0907.2374"

 

[Fuzzystuff]

The Meissner effect will allow superconductors, if possible in room temperatures, to have many sorts of applications. It should be very well possible within this century to be able to have room temperature superconductor and using the Meissner effect for all sorts of applications. That is if a superconductor at room temp is even possible, but it should be. We may find out within the next few decades more about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meissner_effect

 

[Cthugha]

The Meissner effect will allow superconductors, if possible in room temperatures, to have many sorts of applications. It should be very well possible within this century to be able to have room temperature superconductor and using the Meissner effect for all sorts of applications.

Well, sure, the Meissner effect has lots of application, but what really delays applications of semiconductors is the fact that almost all of the high-Tc superconductors are ceramic. It is a nightmare to bring them into a certain shape and work with them as a material for broad industrial usage. An easy-to-handle superconductor would be a major advance. Unless one such material is found, superconductors will be limited to rather specialized applications, but will not find usage as a commonly used material for applications.

 

[Cryxic]

to find a superconductor that will have a critical temperature above room temperature?

Perhaps, but it might be easier to find some special superconducting material that has a critical temperature below room temperature and still works at room temperature...let's say because it's super robust against external perturbations. Ultimately it will depend on the mechanism and the substance. I think eventually we'll find the right combination.