Hydrogen Cryomagnetic a Common Solution for Metallic and Oxide Superconductors

Authors: Bartlomiej Andrzej Glowacki

Abstract

This article examines the physical properties, performance metrics, and cooling requirements of a range of superconducting materials, with a particular focus on their compatibility with hydrogen-based cryogenic systems. It analyses recent developments and challenges in this field, and considers how hydrogen cryomagnetic could transform superconducting technologies, making them economically viable and environmentally sustainable for a variety of critical applications. The discussion aims to provide insights into the intersection of metallic and ceramic superconductors with the hydrogen economy and to chart a path towards scalable and impactful solutions in the energy sector.

1. Introduction

For over a century, the study of superconducting materials has been a dominant area of scientific enquiry and engineering innovation, offering significant potential for the advancement of power engineering and the development of advanced technologies. The development of metallic low temperature superconductors (LTS) and oxide high temperature superconductors (HTS) has facilitated the realisation of several practical applications, including traction transformers [1], power cables [2], fault current limiters (FCLs) [3], magnetic ingot heaters [4], magnetic separators [5], superconducting energy storage devices (SMES) [3,6], motors [7], and Tokamak fusion reactors [8] and many others [9,10]. Even though superconducting materials are now close to being ready for large-scale deployment, the high cost and complexity of cooling them to their operational low temperatures remain significant barriers to their widespread adoption.

The thermophysical properties of liquid hydrogen listed in Table 1, particularly its low boiling point, high specific energy, and substantial latent heat, make it a uniquely capable medium among other cryogenic liquids such as helium and nitrogen for combined energy storage and cryogenic applications when leveraged in superconducting systems.

LH2 can reduce cooling complexity, lower energy consumption in multistage refrigeration, and enable the integration of fuel and thermal management into a single infrastructure. As decarbonized energy systems advance, these multifunctional properties position LH2 as both a key energy carrier and an enabling refrigerant for emerging superconducting technologies.

In the context of the current global scenario, in which the challenges of climate change and energy crises demand urgent and sustainable solutions, the integration of the hydrogen economy presents a promising pathway. The utilization of low-cost liquid hydrogen (LH2) as a coolant represents a viable and complementary approach to addressing these challenges, which has been termed ‘hydrogen cryomagnetic’. The utilization of LH2 as a coolant enables the efficient and cost-effective cooling of metallic and oxide superconductors, thereby unlocking their full potential for a variety of applications. Hydrogen cryomagnetic technology represents an innovative convergence of two advanced scientific superconductivity and cryogenic energy hydrogen systems. This technology utilizes both metallic and ceramic superconductors, materials that can perform well in liquid hydrogen as a cryogenic medium. Liquid hydrogen plays a dual it serves not only as a potential clean energy carrier but also as a coolant that maintains superconductors at their required low operating temperatures. By leveraging hydrogen’s extremely low boiling point (14–32 K), this approach eliminates the need for more expensive or complex cryogenic systems, such as those based on liquid helium; however, at the initial stage of indirect cooling, i-LH2, with a pressurised helium loop, may be the more obvious option. The integration of superconductors with improved in field performance by maximisation of the pinning at higher magnetic flux densities and liquid hydrogen, opens pathways to create ultra-efficient magnetic systems, which may include cryomagnets for energy storage (SMES—superconducting magnetic energy storage), magnetic levitation for transport, high-field magnets for research and medical imaging, and plasma confinement in fusion energy devices.

2. Hydrogen Cryomagnetic

The primary motivation for cryogenic cooling of magnets—whether direct current (DC), alternatig current (AC), pulsed, superconducting, or resistive—is to enhance the electrical conductivity of the conductor in the most cost-effective manner. Traditionally, liquid helium (LHe) or compressed helium gas has been employed for such cooling applications. Monte Carlo simulations conducted in 1990 (Figure 1) indicated a general trend of increasing helium wholesale prices over time [11]. Price fluctuations are primarily driven by two production costs and the imbalance between supply and demand, the latter referred to in the model as “excess demand”. Helium production costs are significantly influenced, though not exclusively determined, by energy prices (e.g., electricity), helium concentration (particularly in non-cryogenic separation processes), labour, raw material costs, and royalties [12].

As discussed in the model validation section, the initial settings for key parameters were based solely on quantitative data, excluding price behaviour (Figure 1). This decision was made because while quantitative (supply/demand) data are relatively robust and consistent globally, pricing is subject to greater uncertainty and data inconsistencies. Consequently, some mismatch between historical and simulated price data in Figure 1 is expected. However, what is more concerning is the observed divergence in both the phenomenological behaviour and magnitude between real and simulated data.

System dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations were successfully employed to predict helium price trends, showing excellent agreement with historical market data over nearly two decades. This research, based on datasets from British Oxygen Company (BOC) and the Culham Fusion Centre, demonstrated that until 2009, the simulated helium prices closely tracked real-world values. However, after 2009, actual helium prices began to diverge sharply from the predicted trajectory, rising far more steeply than anticipated. As of today, helium prices have escalated to such an extent that simulation-based forecasting is no longer meaningful; current prices are so disproportionately high that even helium extraction from ambient air is being reconsidered as a viable option. This deviation is driven by multiple the rise of shale gas production, which contains negligible helium and thus excludes helium recovery from consideration, and the overwhelming global demand for natural gas. As a result, helium recovery during LNG production has become a secondary priority, further tightening global helium supply.

For large-scale installations, the forecasted helium shortage and the already observed price increase by more than an order of magnitude necessitate the development of new cooling policy frameworks [11,12]. Figure 1 indicates that helium prices are approaching USD ~1000 per Mcf, nearing the theoretical cost of extracting helium from ambient air (see crossover point in Figure 1). However, despite the elevated market price, helium extraction from air remains commercially unviable. This is primarily because current air separation units are optimized for oxygen and nitrogen, not helium.

The cost of helium extraction from air (where helium is present at ~5.2 ppm) depends on several factors, including the extraction technology, desired purity levels, energy input, labour, and transportation. The process is technologically complex and rapidly evolving, making accurate cost estimation highly sensitive to these parameters. In applications such as cooling low-temperature superconductors (LTSs) for quantum electronics in the millikelvin (mK) range, or in medical imaging systems like MRI that use metallic superconductors, the high cost of cryogenic cooling must be considered. The required input power from room-temperature machinery, expressed in kilowatts (kW), to generate just 1 Watt (W) of cooling at cryogenic temperatures is substantial. Figure 2 illustrates the minimum input power needed at room temperature to achieve 1 W of cryogenic cooling across various temperature ranges, alongside the associated estimated equipment costs and a brief description of available cooling technologies.

Hydrogen Cryomagnetic Cooling: Indirect and Direct LH2 Approaches

It is evident from Figure 2 that at liquid hydrogen (LH2) temperatures, the operation of cryogenic cooling equipment becomes economically viable. In contrast to the shrinking and increasingly expensive liquid helium (LHe) market (see Figure 1), the hydrogen economy is rapidly expanding, as projected in Figure 3. With growing global investment and infrastructure, LH2 is expected to become widely available. This enables the broader adoption of indirect LH2 cooling (i-LH2) as a standard solution for both metallic and oxide superconductors under the emerging domain of hydrogen cryomagnetic. Provided that hydrogen safety technologies continue to mature, direct LH2 cooling (d-LH2) may also become feasible. This would allow for hybrid cryogenic systems in which LH2 serves dually as a coolant and energy vector. To evaluate these developments, we first examine metallic superconductors and argue that high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) should prioritize i-LH2 as a cost-effective alternative, based on cooling cost data presented in Figure 2, to fully exploit HTS’s potential. To date, the liquid hydrogen option has received limited attention, primarily due to the challenges associated with direct LH2 cooling. However, an established and practical intermediate approach is to use a closed-cycle, low-loss loop of compressed helium gas. This system can provide effective cooling at 20 K (or potentially down to 15 K), allowing users to benefit from LH2’s thermal performance without the direct safety risks associated with hydrogen handling [13].

Unlike boiling cryogens, a compressed helium gas loop avoids issues like critical heat flux. However, it may exhibit lower local heat transfer coefficients. These can be improved significantly by engineering micro-channels into the system substrates, which could offer superior thermal coupling, potentially outperforming conventional LHe-based cooling systems. A comparison of technology implications between helium-cooled indirect hydrogen systems (i-LH2) and conventional helium or nitrogen-based cooling is presented in [3], where research needs and opportunities are also outlined.

As reported by McDonald et al. [14], the power required to operate a copper magnet can be dramatically reduced by lowering the operating temperature. However, below approximately 30 K, copper’s electrical resistance decreases only marginally, establishing this temperature as the economic threshold for high-field, high-current resistive magnets. At 1 bar pressure, liquid hydrogen provides a natural coolant for these systems. Yet, due to safety concerns, direct cooling of copper conductors with LH2 is generally inadvisable.

An effective alternative is to cool the magnet with helium gas at 30 K, itself chilled via an external heat exchanger using LH2~, an indirect LH2 (i-LH2) scheme. A design based on this concept was developed for the 15 T pulsed solenoid used in the MERIT experiment at CERN (Figure 4). In this context, McDonald et al. [14] conducted economic analyses of cooling efficiency for large, resistive electromagnets, comparing systems based on LHe, LH2, and LN2. Their findings reinforce the feasibility of LH2-cooled systems for large-scale high-power magnetic devices.

Taking into account the prices in 2002—USD 0.53 per liter for liquid hydrogen (LH2) and USD 3.00 per liter for liquid helium (LHe)—it is evident that cooling copper magnets with LHe was approximately 70 times more expensive than indirect cooling using i-LH2. Over the following decades, the price of LHe increased by more than an order of magnitude (see Figure 1), while the price of LH2 declined. By 2023, the cost of helium-based cooling exceeded that of i-LH2 by a factor of 1700, and today this differential has grown to more than 2000 times. Importantly, among potential cryogenic helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen, only hydrogen functions as both a cryogen and an energy carrier. This dual functionality makes LH2 an especially attractive choice for cryogenic applications, providing unmatched economic and operational advantages.

There are also practical demonstrations of hydrogen cryomagnetic in the literature. One notable example is presented by Hirabayashi et al. [15], Figure 5, who describe a superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system in which LH2 serves two (a) as a cryogen for conduction cooling of the SMES magnet to 20 K, and (b) as an energy source post-discharge. Following a 60 s discharge event (e.g., after a fault), the same LH2~ used for magnet cooling can be redirected to power a hydrogen fuel cell. This is illustrated in Figure 5a,b. The superconducting magnet offers rapid response and high input/output electrical power, while LH2 ensures high energy density and enables efficient electricity generation through the fuel cell. This synergistic integration of SMES and hydrogen fuel cells offers a compelling path forward for sustainable, high-performance energy systems. Having outlined key examples of i-LH2 used in efficient cooling of both normal-conducting and superconducting magnets, we now turn to the potential of direct LH2 (d-LH2) cooling. In future sections, we will assess the types of superconductors that could feasibly be cooled using d-LH2.

Meanwhile, i-LH2 systems remain extremely practical. For instance, helium-based cryocoolers can supplement i-LH2 systems to achieve operating temperatures in the 4–14 K range. This requires only a modest temperature reduction (e.g., from 20 K to ~10 K) thereby avoiding the need for the expensive and power-intensive technologies previously outlined in Figure 2.

3. Superconductors Selection

The diagram in Figure 6 illustrates the historical evolution of superconducting materials, tracing how successive discoveries have progressively increased the critical temperature (Tc), thereby expanding the scope of economically viable superconducting technologies. Early superconductors, discovered in the early 20th century, were primarily elemental metals and intermetallic alloys with Tc values below 10 K. Their operation required cooling with liquid helium (LHe), boiling point 4.2 K, a highly effective but costly and logistically challenging cryogen due to its scarcity and low boiling point. The subsequent discovery of NbTi and Nb3Sn in the 1950s and 1960s, with Tc values in the 9–18 K range, made practical applications more accessible but still dependent on helium-based systems. A significant paradigm shift occurred in 1986 with the discovery of cuprate high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) such as YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO), which exhibit Tc values exceeding 90 K. These could be cooled using liquid nitrogen (LN2, boiling point 77 K), thereby drastically reducing the cost and complexity of cryogenic systems.

More recently, interest has emerged in hydride superconductors operating at Tc values above 200 K under high pressures. While promising for fundamental research, their requirement for gigapascal-range pressures limits their practicality for applied superconductivity, especially in energy, magnetic, or transport systems. These materials often display localized superconductivity, rendering them currently unsuitable for large-scale engineering applications.

An often-overlooked intermediate domain lies between these extremes, materials with Tc values in the 15–30 K range. These are beyond the reach of LN2 cooling but do not require LHe. For such materials, liquid hydrogen (LH2, boiling point 20.3 K at 1 bar) presents an attractive and economical alternative. LH2 is not only more abundant and significantly less expensive than helium, but it also holds dual value as both a cryogen and an energy carrier, especially appealing in decentralized and hybrid energy systems.

Materials such as magnesium diboride (MgB2) and certain engineered Nb3(Al,Ge) alloys are highly compatible with LH2-based systems. In addition, many HTS materials—such as (RE)Ba2Cu3O7δ (RE = Y, Gd, or mixtures thereof), Ag-(Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox (Bi-2223), Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox (Bi-2212), and thallium or mercury-based cuprates (e.g., Tl- and Hg-HTS) can achieve optimal J–B–T performance (critical current density vs. magnetic field vs. temperature) at LH2 temperatures, compared to degraded performance near LN2 temperatures (close to Tc).

The growing trend in superconductor research and engineering is toward higher Tc materials compatible with more economical, higher-temperature cooling methods. However, while LN2 is widely available and low-cost, it has no intrinsic energy value as a fuel or chemical energy carrier it cannot release usable energy through combustion or reaction, unlike hydrogen, which is a true energy carrier capable of releasing significant energy when oxidized. The only recoverable energy from LN2, analogous to that of LH2, comes from its physical expansion during the phase change from liquid to gas. This expansion can be harnessed via a turbine to generate electricity on demand. Moreover, many high-temperature superconducting (HTS) conductors experience significant degradation in their J–B–T performance envelope at the boiling point of LN2.

In contrast, LH2 occupies a strategic thermal and energetic niche, with excellent latent heat characteristics, making it uniquely suited to support advanced superconducting applications across the 15–30 K range and beyond.

Enhancing superconducting properties, especially increasing Tc, generally involves increasing material complexity. This includes structural anisotropy, stoichiometric substitution, multistage processing, and superconductive anisotropy (γ), as shown in Figure 7. These complexities, while effective in elevating performance, also impose practical limitations, particularly for AC applications and non-trivial geometries, where simpler materials may still offer advantages [16].

In conclusion, liquid hydrogen emerges as a key enabler of the next generation of superconducting systems. It supports a broad range of materials that are otherwise underserved by traditional cryogens, while simultaneously acting as an energy-dense energy carrier a synergy of thermal and energetic functions that points toward hydrogen cryomagnetic as a cornerstone of future applied superconductivity.

Toxicity is a critical factor that continues to limit the applicability of even the highest-temperature superconductors. Due to stringent EU regulations, mercury-based and thallium-based superconductors, despite their record-high critical temperatures (Tc) and excellent current density-field-temperature (J-B-T) performance, cannot be manufactured because of their toxicity. Similarly, toxicity concerns are likely to preclude future commercialization of arsenic-based iron pnictides and lead-based Pb-2223 superconductors, as summarized in Table 2.

Consequently, the list of viable applied superconductors is narrowing, currently including only NbTi, Nb3Sn, Nb3(Al,Ge), MgB2, Bi-2212, and REBCO conductors. While NbTi and Nb3Sn may benefit from efficient pre-cooling with liquid hydrogen (LH2) prior to further cooling with liquid helium (LHe), this article focuses on superconductors whose J-B-T phase diagrams Figure 8 indicate the potential for effective cooling within the 14–33 K range, where LH2 becomes a practical and economic cryogen.

We propose that LH2 should be broadly recognized as a standard cryogen, particularly suitable for both indirect (i-LH2) and direct (d-LH2) cooling of superconducting cryomagnetic devices. Indirect cooling via LH2–He gas heat exchangers is demonstrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5, while direct immersion cooling offers an efficient alternative for compatible superconducting systems.

Before examining specific metallic superconducting materials in the context of hydrogen cryogenics, it is essential to consider additional techno-economic interdependencies that govern the practical application of superconductors at cryogenic temperatures.

The first consideration is the maximum of Jc/cost(T), the ratio of critical current density to cost, which defines the economic feasibility of using LH2 as a coolant. This relationship is illustrated schematically in Figure 9a, showing an optimal point balancing cooling cost and conductor manufacturing cost.

The second aspect, depicted in Figure 9b, is the critical current density of the superconducting layer only, denoted Jcsup(d, T), where d represents the superconducting layer thickness. This property is influenced by layer nucleation, grain growth, and pinning site distribution, all of which can cause significant variation in current density across the thickness, affecting both metallic and ceramic superconductors.

Lastly, Figure 9c presents the engineering critical current density, Jceng(d, T), which incorporates the entire conductor structure—superconducting layer, buffer layers (for HTS), substrate, stabilizer, and insulation. Notably, Jceng is generally lower than Jcsup and reaches its maximum at a larger superconducting layer thickness due to the reduced superconductor-to-conductor cross-sectional ratio. Together, these evaluations support the practical optimization of commercially relevant superconducting wires, including Nb3Sn, Nb3(Al,Ge), MgB2, Bi-2212, and REBCO, for use in advanced cryomagnetic applications.

4. Metallic Superconductors

Figure 9 presents a schematic of the critical surface for all practical superconducting materials, defined by three key critical current density (Jc), critical temperature (Tc), and upper critical magnetic flux density (Bc2). Operating within this critical surface is not merely a guideline; it is an engineering necessity. For any superconducting power application, the boundary function f(J, B, T) fundamentally determines the conditions for safe, stable, and efficient operation.

In superconducting magnets—such as those used in MRI machines or tokamaks—exceeding these critical limits can lead to local transitions to the normal (resistive) state, resulting in magnetic field distortions and potentially catastrophic system failures. Similarly, in superconducting DC or AC power cables cooled by hydrogen at approximately 20 K, surpassing critical limits leads to resistive losses and major grid disruptions. To avoid these risks, engineers incorporate substantial design margins, typically operating at 70–80% of the rated values of Jc and Bc2. For Tc, the safety margin is even more critical, particularly given the anticipated broader availability of liquid hydrogen (LH2) in the near future (see Figure 3). Cryogenic cooling systems, whether direct (d-LH2) or indirect (i-LH2), must be engineered for thermal stability and redundancy to prevent local hot spots from escalating into system-wide failures.

While critical temperature dictates the choice of cryogen, the global pinning force versus magnetic field is arguably the most important intrinsic parameter determining the cryomagnetic applicability of a superconductor. In most high-pinning, type-II superconductors, the global pinning force, often normalized as Fp/Fpmax, exhibits a scaling behavior with reduced magnetic flux density b = B/Bc2, as shown in Figure 10 and described by Equations (1)–(3).Pinning force Fp = Jc × B(1)Fp = JcB = G(Bc2(T))^2^ f(b)/k^m^(2)f(b) = b^p^(1 − b)^q^(3)

This scaling law is measuring Fp versus b at one temperature allows prediction of Fp at other temperatures using a scaling factor of the form [Bc2(T)]^n^. The equation includes several G is a geometrical factor associated with the microstructure (typically interpreted as the surface area of inclusions per unit volume of matrix); n and m are fitting parameters; k is a smoothing factor that defines the peak pinning value; and p and q are pinning-related and material-specific parameters. The position of the maximum pinning force along the reduced flux density axis b is given by the ratio p/(p + q).

For many advanced superconductors considered for practical applications—such as Powder-in-Tube (PIT) Nb3Sn, MgB2, and Bi-2212—the pinning force scaling follows the Fp ~ b^0^·^5^(1 − b)^2^ where p = 0.5, q = 2, and the peak pinning occurs at b = 0.2 of Bc2. This presents a limitation for high-field applications, especially in A15 and MgB2 conductors. To improve performance under higher magnetic fields at elevated temperatures (e.g., near 14 K with LH2 cooling), the superconductor’s pinning should instead follow the scaling Fp ~ b^2^(1 − b) where p = 2 and q = 1. This shift moves the pinning force maximum toward higher reduced fields, making the conductor more suitable for high-field operation with LH2-based cryogenic systems, as illustrated in Figure 11.

As shown in Figure 12, many A15 conductors demonstrate significant potential for high-field pinning performance, characterized by the scaling law Fp = Jc × B ~ b^2^(1 − b) (with p = 2, q = 1), which makes them well-suited for operation at elevated cryogenic temperatures, such as those achievable with liquid hydrogen (LH2). This high-field scaling behavior enables A15 materials to take full advantage of hydrogen cryomagnetic cooling regimes in the 15–30 K range.

For example, Nb3Sn conductors doped with tantalum, manufactured via a mixed-phase liquid-solid diffusion process [(Nb,Ta)6Sn5 + Nb–4at%Ta], exhibit enhanced high-field critical current characteristics. These make such conductors excellent candidates for elevated-temperature superconducting applications, as illustrated in Figure 11. Even more promising are the high-field properties achieved in single-filament Nb3Ga conductors, which have undergone quenching followed by additional annealing. With a critical temperature Tc ≈ 20 K and superior Jc – B characteristics at 4.2 K, these conductors show strong potential for direct LH2 cooling (d-LH2) applications, also depicted in Figure 11.

Furthermore, Nb3Ge, with a Tc reaching 23.2 K (see the next paragraph, Table 1, and Figure 13), offers even better performance in the LH2 temperature range. Its properties make it a prime candidate for high-field applications cooled by liquid hydrogen.

Given this context, the next chapter will focus on the potential of Nb3(Al,Ge) conductors for direct LH2 cooling and their role in advancing hydrogen-based cryomagnetic technologies.

4.1. Nb3(Al, Ge)

An important subgroup within the metallic A15 superconducting family includes Nb3Al, Nb3(Al,Ge), and Nb3Ge, which exhibit critical temperatures (Tc) in the range of 20–23 K, and exceptionally high values of Bc2 (Table 3). These materials enable the construction of 20 T-class magnets operating at 14 K, as shown in Figure 13, exceeding the performance of both Nb3Sn and Nb3~Ga superconductors [23,24].

Substitution of Al with elements such as Ge, Ga, Be, B, or Cu within the A15 structure has been shown to increase the Tc of Nb3Al. Among these, germanium is particularly effective at stabilizing the A15 phase. The most widely used fabrication technique for Nb3(Al,Ge) involves powder metallurgy (PM), where Nb, Al, and Ge powders are packed into a Nb sheath [24]. The composite is typically heat-treated via laser or electron-beam irradiation to suppress excessive grain growth. However, the limited cooling rate of this method results in degraded Jc at low magnetic fields.

A more promising method was developed by Kikuchi et al. [26], using a rapid heating, in situ transformation (RIT) process. In this technique, a Nb/Al–20%Ge composite is rapidly heated and then quenched, forming Nb3(Al,Ge) filaments embedded in a Nb matrix, directly yielding the A15 phase. A subsequent heat treatment at 800 °C for 10 h significantly enhances the long-range order of the A15 phase, thereby increasing Tc. The resulting Jc at high fields is significantly higher than that of RHQT (rapid heating, quenching, and transformation) Nb3Al.

To enhance the applicability of Nb3(Al,Ge) conductors for NMR magnets operating with LH2 cooling, the Jc peak must be shifted to higher magnetic fields, as seen in the Jc vs. H plot in Figure 14a. A comparison of the volume pinning force between wires produced via rapid heating/quenching and those produced by solid-state diffusion reveals a marked difference in pinning behavior (Figure 14b). For Nb3(Al,Ge), the maximum volume pinning force occurs at higher magnetic fields, while in solid-state-reacted Nb3Al wires, the peak is observed at ~5 T.

This shift is associated with differences in pinning mechanisms. For the irradiated Nb3(Al,Ge) samples, the volume pinning force at lower fields is suppressed, likely due to point defects or interfacial pinning between superconducting regions of differing Tc. Magnetic pinning at the boundaries of different phases, with dissimilar magnetization curves, can also result in a minimum in Jc vs. B, where the magnetizations equalize and both Jc and Fp approach zero. Between this minimum and Hc2, a Jc peak appears, commonly referred to as the “valley effect”, first noted by Evetts [27]. In addition to magnetic pinning, Pippard [28] proposed an alternative mechanism related to flux lattice defects and weak, line-like pinning forces. According to his theory, the Jc peak tends to occur near Hc2, as the rigidity of the flux-line lattice drops more rapidly than the pinning force exerted by inhomogeneities. This phenomenon further explains the enhanced high-field performance of Nb3(Al,Ge) under LH2 cryogenic conditions.

This loss of rigidity in the flux-line lattice (FLL) strengthens flux pinning by allowing fluxoids to more easily conform to a minimum energy configuration under the influence of the applied current [28]. As a result, the Jc peak is observed over a broader range of conditions than would be expected in a simple Jc vs. H relationship. This peak originates from a narrow maximum in the pinning force (Fp) at high reduced fields. Microstructures that exhibit either a high density of weak pinning centers or a moderate density of stronger pins can generate the desired narrow Fp peak at high fields. A high density of defects in the FLL allows fluxoids to adapt more effectively to pinning centers, thereby enhancing Jc [37]. In Nb3Al and similar superconductors, this results in an increasing Jc with increasing magnetic field, up to the peak. The explanation lies in the deformation of the flux lattice, which enables better accommodation of fluxoids into the pinning sites. However, beyond the peak, depinning occurs, causing a sharp drop in Jc [24]. Optimizing the Jc peak and its position in Nb3(Al,Ge) remains a complex challenge due to the sensitivity of the intermetallic phase formation to thermal and mechanical processing conditions. Currently, the rapid-heating/quenching (RHQ) process is the preferred method for producing Nb3(Al,Ge) wires. The alternative transformation-heat-based up-quenching (TRUQ) process has not yet reached a mature stage of development [23].

Recent findings show that reducing the Al–Ge alloy core size in the precursor wire leads to improved high-field Jc. For instance, Nb3(Al,Ge) wires with a 0.3 µm core achieve Jc > 150 A/mm^2^ at 4.2 K and 25 T, nearly twice the value of wires with 1.5 µm cores. This improvement is attributed to a higher diffusion-pair density in the composite, which increases the volume fraction of the A15-Nb3(Al,Ge) phase [26].

The Nb3(Al,Ge) system thus presents a promising alternative in high-performance superconductors, particularly for operation at 15 K, a temperature that is readily achievable with liquid hydrogen (LH2). This makes Nb3Ge-based conductors particularly suitable for hydrogen cryomagnetic applications. A schematic performance-to-energy cost evaluation, defined as Jc per kW of cryogenic cooling, is shown in Figure 15, expanding on the principle introduced in Figure 9a. The analysis indicates that the optimal performance-to-cost ratio occurs at 14–15 K using either direct (d-LH2) or indirect (i-LH2) cooling, thereby affirming the practical suitability of these materials for next-generation hydrogen-cooled superconducting systems.

While Nb3(Al,Ge) A15 conductors do not achieve the high critical temperatures of REBCO or cuprate superconductors such as Hg-1223 and Tl-1223, they offer significant advantages in terms of material safety, sustainability, and scalability. Nevertheless, as with all advanced materials, issues related to resource availability and geopolitical concentration must be carefully considered.

A key benefit of Nb3Ge lies in its it is based on non-toxic, relatively abundant elements. Unlike mercury- or thallium-based high-temperature superconductors, which pose serious environmental and health hazards, Nb3Ge is composed of niobium and germanium, both widely used in high-tech industries and much safer to process and handle. This makes Nb3Ge particularly attractive for large-scale or long-term applications, where material toxicity and environmental impact during manufacturing and disposal are of concern. Although Nb3Ge requires cooling to lower temperatures, the use of liquid hydrogen (LH2) presents fewer environmental risks compared to the toxic components in some high-temperature superconductors.

In terms of reliability and long-term sustainability, Nb3Ge also compares favorably with rare-earth-based superconductors such as YBCO, which rely on elements with fragile and geopolitically constrained supply chains. The global supply of rare-earth elements is often dominated by a few countries, subject to price volatility and export restrictions. In contrast, niobium and germanium are established industrial materials with broader, though still concentrated, global usage. Their extraction processes do not depend on environmentally intensive RE mining, making Nb3Ge less exposed to the geopolitical risks that can affect REBCO scaling.

However, the concentration of production for both niobium and germanium cannot be ignored. In 2023, global germanium production was approximately 118 metric tons, with China accounting for over 93.5% of that total. Meanwhile, niobium production stood at around 83,000 metric tons, with Brazil responsible for approximately 90% (75,000 tons). These statistics underscore China’s dominance in germanium and Brazil’s leadership in niobium, creating potential vulnerabilities. Although neither element is currently classified as critically scarce, disruptions in trade policies, export controls, or political instability in these regions could adversely affect the long-term scalability of Nb3Ge-based superconducting systems.

From a performance perspective, both Nb3Ge and Nb3(Al,Ge) conductors exhibit strong critical current densities (Jc) and robust magnetic field tolerance at 15 K, positioning them as excellent candidates for high-field applications such as fusion energy devices, advanced power systems, and next-generation MRI or NMR magnets. While liquid hydrogen cooling is more costly than liquid nitrogen, Nb3Ge’s stability and performance retention at i-LH2 temperatures ensure a reliable superconducting state with minimal degradation over time. This makes Nb3Ge particularly compelling in systems where high magnetic field performance is more important than maximizing the operating temperature.

A typical MRI system uses a GM or pulse-tube cryocooler to operate in “zero boil-off” mode or via direct conduction, particularly in mobile or stationary installations. During scanning, the cryocooler is often turned off to minimize acoustic and electromagnetic noise. In a hydrogen-based cryomagnetic infrastructure, liquid hydrogen (LH2) can serve simultaneously as a coolant, energy store, and energy source, offering additional hospital-wide benefits through cryogenic integration. Existing MRI facilities already include helium exhaust ducts for quench events; these can be repurposed to accommodate compressed helium close-circuit lines, with precooling via LH2 heat exchange, and optionally, final cooling using a Joule–Thomson (JT) stage. Such configurations enable efficient operation in the 4–14 K range for NbTi-based MRI systems, enhancing the sustainability and resilience of clinical cryogenics.

4.2. MgB2 Conductors

A substantial research effort has been devoted to the doping and development of binary MgB2 conductors, with the objective of enhancing their critical parameters to meet the requirements of applications at hydrogen cryogenic temperatures. Current research in MgB2 focuses on improving three fundamental superconducting the critical temperature (Tc), the upper critical flux density (Bc2), and consequently, the critical current density (Jc) as a function of magnetic flux density (B), as illustrated in Figure 8. Among various conductor architectures, powder-in-tube (PIT) round conductors have emerged as the preferred choice due to their capability for low AC losses and their potential to generate high magnetic flux densities under hydrogen cryomagnetic conditions [39]. To fully realise MgB2’s potential as a competitive superconducting material, two parallel development paths are thin-film fabrication [40] and PIT processing [41,42].

Initial comparisons between PIT and thin-film MgB2 conductors have shown the superior pinning performance of thin films, particularly in terms of scaling law behavior and absolute pinning force [40], as shown in Figure 16.

Future advancements in PIT conductor design are expected to follow a similar processing procedure to that of the A15 Nb3Sn multiphasic composite (e.g., Nb–Cu–NbSn2), where multistage liquid-phase diffusion processing led to substantial improvements in wire performance [46]. These A15 conductors are noted for their fine-grained microstructure with a high grain boundary density, resulting in exceptionally high Jc values and enhanced pinning strength. Analogously, the manufacture of PIT MgB2 conductors should evolve toward a continuous production process [47], integrating rapid heating techniques and offering flexibility for either on-line or batch-mode thermal treatments [34].

An extensive development in PIT technology has led to notable improvements in Jc vs. B performance for round wires, depicted in Figure 17.

For instance, SiC-doped Cu-sheathed PIT conductors, fabricated via hot isostatic pressing (HIP), have demonstrated high Jc values in the 7–14 T range [50]. While HIP introduces limitations in scalability due to its batch-processing nature, it nonetheless represents a critical advancement, offering a potential pathway for PIT conductors to eventually outperform thin films in applications related to hydrogen cryomagnetic, including DC, AC, and transient current (charging/discharging) systems.

The enhanced high-field pinning behavior observed in these advanced MgB2 conductors appears to result from a complex interplay of powder densification, liquid–solid interfacial reactions, chemical substitution, and precipitation dynamics, often under conditions of non-uniform magnesium excess or deficiency. Ongoing research aims to characterize this behavior through model conductors prepared under varied compressive processing techniques, seeking to clarify the mechanisms responsible for forming dense, Cu-sheathed, ex situ/in situ hybrid single-core wires. Given the competing demands of densification and grain size control, non-linear constrained optimization methods are necessary to develop optimum sintering and reaction profiles, balancing MgB2 formation with minimal grain coarsening. The volume pinning forces achieved in high-performance MgB2 wires conform to a scaling law of the form ~ b^2^(1 − b), which is characteristic of robust high-field superconductors. This behavior ensures that such conductors will perform efficiently at elevated cryogenic temperatures, particularly within the 14–20 K range typical of liquid hydrogen cooling. MgB2 PIT conductors, therefore, represent a promising candidate for hydrogen-cooled superconducting magnets, capable of delivering high performance for a wide range of electromagnetic applications operating around 15 K, where both material efficiency and cooling economy are optimized.

5. High Temperature Superconductors

Over the past 38 years, a substantial number of cuprate high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) have been discovered, as illustrated in Figure 6, with critical temperatures reaching up to 135 K at ambient pressure [51]. Among them, HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8 + δ (Hg-1223) and TlBa2Ca2Cu3O8 + δ (Tl-1223) stand out for their exceptional superconducting properties, particularly at elevated temperatures. However, despite their impressive performance, including operation at liquefied natural gas (LNG) temperatures around 112 K, their widespread application is severely limited by the toxicity and environmental hazards associated with mercury (Hg) and thallium (Tl); see Table 1.

The synthesis of Hg-1223 and Tl-1223 involves high-temperature reactions requiring toxic precursors and specialized containment systems. Mercury vapor and thallium fumes pose serious safety and environmental risks due to their volatility and difficulty in containment. Without rigorous safeguards, these toxic species can contaminate air and water supplies. Consequently, regulatory authorities, particularly in the EU, have imposed strict limitations or outright bans on the production and commercial use of such materials. These safety and environmental considerations, outlined in Table 1, make Hg-1223 and Tl-1223 impractical for real-world superconducting technologies, despite their superior intrinsic properties.

Similar concerns extend to arsenic-based iron pnictide superconductors and lead-based cuprates (e.g., Pb-2223). While some of these materials exhibit promising superconducting characteristics, health and environmental risks, combined with complex processing requirements, will likely prevent them from achieving commercial viability soon.

In this chapter, we do not aim to glorify widely recognized HTS materials such as Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212), Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 (Bi-2223), and REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxides), despite their notable performance at cryogenic temperatures between 64 K and 77 K, as seen in Figure 6. The reality is that these materials face numerous technical and economic challenges. These include the Dependence on rare-earth elements with concentrated and geopolitically sensitive supply chains.Relatively low irreversibility fields, which limit performance under high magnetic fields.Extremely complex and costly manufacturing processes, especially for REBCO tapes;Lack of scalable, wide-tape production infrastructure.Absence of multifilamentary or transposed technologically scalable configurations, which are essential for AC and dynamic current applications.And above all, their prohibitively high cost, which restricts their accessibility and scalability.

Given these limitations, the practical deployment of HTS materials remains constrained, and in many cases, low-temperature superconductors (LTSs) such as Nb3Sn, Nb3(Al,Ge), and MgB2, particularly those operable with liquid hydrogen at 15–20 K, may offer more viable pathways for sustainable, large-scale applications in energy, transport, and magnet technologies.

Among the various high-temperature superconductors (HTSs) developed over the past four decades, only the bismuth-based cuprates (Bi-2223 and Bi-2212) and the rare-earth barium copper oxides (REBCO or RE-123) have retained technological relevance [52]. However, each comes with significant limitations that hinder their broad commercial deployment. For Bi-based cuprates, although they exhibit sufficient performance under magnetic fields at liquid hydrogen temperatures (see Figure 18), they suffer from a low irreversibility field at higher temperatures, making them unsuitable for many practical applications. Despite the mature manufacturing processes for Bi-2223 and steady improvements in its performance, its technological reproducibility for AC applications remains poor. This is primarily due to retrograde densification, which induces intrafilamentary bridging and coupling losses, rendering AC applications inefficient and unreliable. These issues have led leading manufacturers, such as Sumitomo Electric Industries, to cease production, deeming it economically unsustainable. Nevertheless, Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 remain useful in niche DC high-field magnet applications (Figure 19a) [53]. However, their limited market applicability does not justify expectations for economic scalability or widespread adoption.

Several technological challenges persist in HTS coil design, particularly for Bi-based and REBCO Screening-current-induced magnetic fields, which distort the field profile; Mechanical degradation, due to high stresses in both longitudinal and transverse directions and Insufficient quench protection, as abrupt thermal runaway events are difficult to detect and manage [54]. While DC applications can tolerate flux creep to a certain degree, AC applications, such as power transmission cables, rotating machinery (motors/generators), fusion magnet systems, and superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), are fundamentally limited by the high anisotropy and 2D architecture of thin-film REBCO conductors. Multifilamentary structuring and transposition, which are essential for minimizing AC losses, are not currently feasible at scale with REBCO tapes.

Despite over 38 years of intensive global R&D since the 1987 discovery of REBCO, key challenges remain unresolved. Notably, the development of wide, multifilamentary REBCO conductors continues to lag. A comprehensive review [55] highlights the urgent need for the Optimizing pinning defect structures at 20–40 K, especially under variable flux density conditions (Figure 19a).Tailored pinning architectures, which are not yet achievable with current fabrication technologies.And the development of low-cost, scalable, and highly reliable manufacturing techniques to replace today’s expensive and limited 2D coated conductor architecture.

In contrast, metallic superconductors, such as advanced A-15 (e.g., Nb3Al, Nb3Ge) and MgB2, are already operable at liquid hydrogen temperatures (14–20 K), offering higher performance at lower cost, and far greater feasibility for AC and dynamic current applications. While REBCO conductors can be operated at higher temperatures (64–77 K, using liquid nitrogen), this offers diminishing value in comparison to the superior performance achievable at 20 K, see Figure 20b, with hydrogen-based cryogenics, which are increasingly accessible in the hydrogen economy.

Commercially available REBCO tapes, typically 6 mm wide, can sustain high persistent currents within their micron-thick superconducting layers. However, these narrow tapes are not ideal for persistent magnet applications, and their production is costly and time consuming. An innovative alternative involves cutting wider (e.g., 40 mm) REBCO tapes into smaller segments, stacking them to form composite bulk magnets, Figure 20a. These stacked tapes can trap exceptionally high magnetic fields at cryogenic temperatures, despite containing only a small volume fraction of REBCO material.

A remarkable demonstration of this approach is the trapping of a 17.7 T magnetic field at 8 K between two REBCO tape stacks, with no external mechanical reinforcement. Even at 14 K, a field of 17.6 T could be maintained. This represents the strongest permanent magnet ever reported for superconducting tapes and showcases the potential of REBCO stacked tapes for persistent cryogenic hydrogen magnet applications (see Figure 20, Figure 21, Figure 22 and Figure 23). In these configurations, REBCO tape stacks outperform conventional (RE)BCO bulks in both mechanical robustness and magnetic field strength.

Historically, most trapped field magnets have employed bulk (RE)BCO superconductors grown via top-seeded melt growth methods [57,58], achieving high HTS volume fractions (>90%). This high superconducting content enables exceptionally high engineering current densities. However, the intrinsic brittleness of the ceramic material limits its mechanical performance. Cracking due to tensile stresses, induced by Lorentz forces acting between circulating supercurrents and the pinned magnetic flux vortices, presents a major challenge. Furthermore, the ability of the critical current to flow along the c-axis in bulk samples complicates flux pinning mechanisms and increases the risk of magnetic flux instabilities, particularly at low temperatures.

Recent comparative studies have shown that REBCO tape stacks, especially those made from 12 mm wide tapes, offer significant advantages over bulk HTS, as presented in Figure 21. As the operating temperature decreases from 50 K to 10 K, the trapped field in stacks improves by nearly 40%, while bulk samples plateau or degrade due to their mechanical fragility. Crucially, liquid hydrogen (LH2) operation offers a thermal environment where stacked REBCO conductors outperform in both mechanical and magnetic field performance. This validates LH2 as the cryogen of choice for next-generation cryomagnetic systems.

Stacked REBCO tapes are now under serious consideration as rotor poles in superconducting electric motors, where the cryogenic energy cost is offset by the gains in power-to-weight ratio (see Figure 22 and Figure 23). The advancement of wide tape production (40–100 mm) is critical not only for reducing the cost of standard 4–6 mm REBCO tapes by slitting wide tapes, but also for enabling scalable applications in AC motors, HVDC/AC transmission cables, fusion reactor magnets, and SMES systems.

The rectangular geometry of stacked REBCO magnets aligns well with the design of radial-gap synchronous motors, inspiring new HTS motor concepts. For example, a trapped field of 0.72 T has been demonstrated in a compact 24 mm × 12 mm stack of only 15 layers, operating at 15 K (LH2).

One of the most ambitious applications is the European Union-funded ASuMED project (Advanced Superconducting Motor Experimental Demonstrator), which targets the Flightpath 2050 objectives for electrified aviation [61], Figure 23a. This project aims to develop a 1 MW all-superconducting motor with a power density of 20 kW kg^−1^, incorporating a 4 mm REBCO tape wound stator (SUPEROX) and rotor stacks of 40 mm × 60 mm REBCO tape, fabricated in collaboration with Deutsche Nano BSF (Figure 23b).

A high-efficiency cryostat system has been designed for the motor, featuring an integrated cryogenic cooling loop and power converter. The rotor is cooled indirectly using helium gas at 25 K and 2 bar with the HTS stacks operating at 30 K. Importantly, indirect LH2 cooling (i-LH2) serves as the ultimate thermal reservoir. Studies have also examined the feasibility of direct LH2 cooling, which could reduce the total mass of the cryogenic system and enhance system integration, especially when LH2 is also used as the energy carrier to power the superconducting propulsion motor.

6. Conclusions

Hydrogen cryomagnetic technology represents an innovative convergence of two advanced scientific superconductivity and cryogenic hydrogen systems. It leverages both metallic and ceramic superconductors—materials that operate efficiently in liquid hydrogen environments. In this context, liquid hydrogen plays a dual it functions as a clean energy carrier and as a cryogenic coolant that maintains superconductors at their critical low temperatures. By exploiting hydrogen’s low boiling point (14–32 K), this approach reduces reliance on more costly and complex cooling systems such as those using liquid helium. However, during early-stage implementation, indirect cooling (i-LH2) using a closed helium compression loop with an LH2 heat exchanger may offer a more practical solution. The integration of superconductors with liquid hydrogen enables the development of ultra-efficient magnetic systems, including superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), magnetic levitation for transportation, high-field magnets for research and medical imaging, and magnetic confinement for fusion energy applications.

Beyond large-scale infrastructure, hydrogen cryomagnetic systems hold promise for decentralized energy solutions, supporting compact, lightweight, and high-capacity systems suitable for off-grid and remote locations. The dual role of hydrogen—as both fuel and refrigerant—simplifies system architecture and boosts energy density per unit of mass and volume. Ultimately, this emerging field seeks to combine the quantum-level performance of practical superconductors with hydrogen-based sustainability, offering a transformative pathway to address the critical challenges of clean energy storage, transmission, and propulsion across all superconducting technologies.