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Superconducting materials are a unique class of substances that exhibit the extraordinary property of superconductivity. This phenomenon, discovered in 1911, is defined by two key characteristics: the complete absence of electrical resistance and the expulsion of magnetic fields (known as the Meissner effect) when the material is cooled below a certain critical temperature. The search for new superconducting materials has been a major field of research for over a century, driven by the immense potential of perfect conductivity.

Superconducting materials are broadly categorized into two main groups: Low-Temperature Superconductors (LTS) and High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS). LTS materials, such as alloys of niobium-titanium and niobium-tin, were the first to be discovered and are well-understood. They require cooling to temperatures near absolute zero, typically with liquid helium, to become superconducting. Their applications are widespread in the medical and scientific fields, particularly in creating powerful electromagnets for MRI machines and particle accelerators.

The discovery of HTS materials in the 1980s, primarily complex ceramic compounds like Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide (YBCO), was a revolutionary breakthrough. These materials can achieve superconductivity at significantly higher temperatures, often above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. While still requiring cryogenic cooling, the use of liquid nitrogen is far more cost-effective and practical than liquid helium, which has opened the door to a new range of commercial applications. The search for even higher-temperature superconductors, potentially even at room temperature, continues to be the "holy grail" of materials science. The development of new and more efficient superconducting materials is crucial for advancing technologies in fields from energy transmission to high-speed transportation and quantum computing, making it a critical area of future innovation.