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Scientists Create New Type of Superconductor Wires
An anonymous reader writes "Scientists in Israel have used technology created at a U.S.-funded national research lab to created a new kind of wire spun from sapphire crystals, that is a vastly better conductor than traditional copper wires. The research could have profound implications for renewable energy since much of the generation is in remote locations. It could help bring more electricity from renewable sources to cities."
better article: http://www.sciencenewsline.com/technology/2011090708160001.html
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... covered with High-Tc superconductor film, epitaxially grown. So yes, it would work.
Much better info about this R&D for /. crowd : http://www.rdmag.com/RD100-Awards-Rounding-The-Edges-On-Superconductor-Wires/
Paul B.
I looked into this, and apparently this invention is not about the sapphire itself being superconductive or even conductive- things might be different with the right doping, but ordinarily, a sapphire crystal is a very good electrical resistor. This is about using a precisely crafted sapphire thread as a support for laying down a high temperature superconductor. Known high temperature superconductors, being ceramics, are difficult to make into practical wires, something that has limited their use (for most applications that need superconducting wire, niobium alloys are used, which make fine wire, but these only superconduct under liquid helium temperatures).
"FDA staff reviewers expressed concern about the number of patients who were left out of the study because they died."
See http://www.rdmag.com/RD100-Awards-Rounding-The-Edges-On-Superconductor-Wires/ which I reached via the sapphire outfit's site. The sapphire is a substrate for epitaxial deposition of an unspecified superconductor. It is not the conductor and the story is making more sense now.