Post by Tjalling de Boer

#emobilityMonday at Coherent Corp. 🔋 From Fusion to Flight: Could High-Temperature Superconductors Power E-Mobility? High-Temperature Superconducting (#HTS) tapes are transforming advanced technologies. These flexible conductors, typically made from YBCO (Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide), carry extremely high current densities with zero electrical resistance—when cooled to cryogenic temperatures. HTS tapes can be wound into coils, often in multiple layers, to form magnet windings. 🌍 Why is HTS a Game-Changer: 🧊 Operates at 20–77 K (liquid nitrogen), reducing cooling costs vs. helium-based systems. 🧲 Enables stronger, more compact magnets. 🌱 Reduces reliance on scarce helium, improving sustainability. 🔧 Where HTS Is Already Making an Impact: ⚛️ Fusion: HTS magnets enable smaller, more efficient reactors. 🧲 MRI: Helium-free systems offer better imaging and lower costs. ⚡ Power grids: HTS cables transmit electricity with minimal loss, boosting efficiency. But now the jump to e-mobility—could HTS be used here as well? ✈️ HTS in Aerospace E-Mobility: A New Frontier While cryogenic cooling limits HTS use in cars, it may be more feasible in aviation. Airbus explored this potential through its ASCEND demonstrator (2021–2023), which tested how cryogenics and superconductivity could be applied to electric aircraft propulsion. The project showed that the presence of a cold source—liquid hydrogen—alongside superconducting technologies could unlock new possibilities, enabling electrical propulsion systems that are 2 to 3 times lighter than conventional ones. Building on this, in 2024 Airbus UpNext and Toshiba announced a collaboration to develop a 2-megawatt superconducting motor for hydrogen-powered aircraft. The motor will be cooled using onboard liquid hydrogen. While the materials haven’t been disclosed, Toshiba’s HTS expertise and the cryogenic design strongly suggest HTS tape is likely involved. 🔗 Read more about ASCEND https://lnkd.in/eZ_-Az-N 🔗 Airbus–Toshiba collaboration https://lnkd.in/er32WMcu 🛠️ Scaling HTS: The Role of Coherent’s LEAP 600C In June 2025, Coherent launched the LEAP 600C, a 600 W excimer laser system for Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) of HTS materials. It: 🔄 Doubles HTS tape production throughput 🧪 Improves consistency and quality 🏭 Enables industrial-scale manufacturing for fusion, medical, and aerospace use 🔑 Key Takeaways 🔹HTS is proven in fusion, MRI, and grid tech. 🔹Aerospace e-mobility is a promising next step. 🔹HTS motors offer high power density and efficiency. 🔹Cryogenic cooling is more viable in aviation than in cars. 🔹Coherent’s LEAP 600C is key to scaling HTS production. HTS may not power your next EV—but it could soon power the next generation of aircraft. https://lnkd.in/ezagT-Jy