Electricity travels through wires to deliver power, but some of that energy is always lost along the way. However, that energy loss doesn’t have to happen. Researchers at Penn State have discovered a new method for identifying materials called superconductors, which can transmit electricity with zero resistance, allowing energy to move without any loss.

The challenge is that superconductors are difficult to use in most real-world applications because they only function at extremely low temperatures. Such conditions make them impractical for technologies like next-generation energy systems or advanced electronics. Supported by the “Theory of Condensed Matter” program within the Basic Energy Science division of the Department of Energy (DOE), the Penn State team has created a new predictive approach that could help scientists discover superconductors capable of working at higher temperatures.

According to Zi-Kui Liu, professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State, predicting which materials will become superconductors—especially those that operate at higher temperatures—remains a major scientific challenge. He explained that most researchers still believe existing theories of superconductivity apply only to materials that function at very low temperatures.

“The goal has always been to raise the temperature at which superconductivity persists,” said Liu, who is lead author of a new study published in Superconductor Science and Technology. “But first, we need to understand exactly how superconductivity happens, and that is where our work comes in.”

“We are not just explaining what is already known,” Liu said. “We are building a framework to discover something entirely new. If successful, the approach could lead to the discovery of high-temperature superconductors that work in practical settings, potentially even at room temperature if they exist. That kind of breakthrough could have an enormous impact on modern technology and energy systems.”