What aspect of superconductivity has prevented its large scale application thus far?

Answer 1

1) They require very low temperature, which is very expensive.

2) The ones that work at the highest temperatures (still very cold) are very hard to make into large structures. The small "high-temperature" superconductors that can be made have no practical use.

3) In most electrical applications superconductors would not save much energy so for most purposes there is no point - the three exceptions are powerful magnets, large motors and power transmission lines - reasons 1 and 2 are why they are not used for motors and transmission lines application.

4) Superconductors are used routinely for making very high power electromagnets. In this case the energy savings is great enough to offset the cost of making the exotic superconducting alloy and the cost of refrigeration.

Answer 2

In order for most materials to be superconductive, they have to be extremely cold. Like liquid hydrogen cold, cryogenic level cold. This is kind of hard and expensive to maintain on a large scale.

People keep trying to develop high-temperature superconductivity, but no one has succeeded in proving that this works.

Answer 3

superconductivity is the conduction of electricity by elements at a very low temp. wihout the loss of energy.but it is very difficult to maintain such a low temp. for the effective working of superconductors.hence their use is still not up.

Answer 4

There are still no room temp superconductors. many are fragile ceramics. All are complex chemically.

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