Conventional superconductor

Conventional superconductors are materials that display superconductivity as described by BCS theory or its extensions.

Critical temperatures of some simple metals:

Element T_c (K)

Al 1.20

Hg 4.15

Mo 0.92

Nb 9.26

Pb 7.19

Ta 4.48

Ti 0.39

V 5.30

Zn 0.88

Element	T_c (K)
Al	1.20
Hg	4.15
Mo	0.92
Nb	9.26
Pb	7.19
Ta	4.48
Ti	0.39
V	5.30
Zn	0.88

Niobium and vanadium are type-II superconductors, while most other superconducting elements are type-I materials. Almost all compound and alloy superconductors are type-II materials.

The most commonly used conventional superconductor in applications is a niobium-titanium alloy - this is a type-II superconductor with a T_c of 11 K. The highest critical temperature so far achieved in a conventional superconductor was 39 K (-234 °C) in magnesium diboride.