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Comparison of Type – I and Type – II Superconductors

Last updated October 26, 2020 by Electrical4U

Based on the behavior and properties of Superconductors, these are classified into two categories-

(1) Type – I Superconductors: Low Temperature Superconductors.

(2) Type – II Superconductors: High Temperature Superconductors.

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Type – I and Type – II superconductors slightly different in their behavior and properties. The comparison of type-I and
type – II superconductors is shown in the table below

Type – I Superconductors Type – II Superconductors x

Low critical temperature High critical temperature (typically greater than 10K)
(typically in the range of 0K
to 10K) x

Low Critical magnetic field

(Typically in the range of High Critical magnetic field (Typically greater than 1T)
0.0000049 T to 1T)

Perfectly obey the Meissner

effect: Magnetic field cannot Partly obey the Meissner effect but not completely: Magnetic field can penetrate inside
penetrate inside the the material.
material.

Exhibits single critical

Exhibits two critical magnetic field
magnetic field.

Easily lose the

superconducting state by
low-intensity magnetic field.
Does not easily lose the superconducting state by external magnetic field. Therefore,
Therefore, type-I
type-II superconductors are also known as hard superconductors.
superconductors are also
known as soft
superconductors.

The transition from a superconducting state to a normal state due to the external
magnetic field is gradually but not shape and abrupt. At lower critical magnetic field
The transition from a
(HC1), type-II superconductor starts losing its superconductivity. At upper critical
superconducting state to a
magnetic field (HC2), type-II superconductor completely loses its superconductivity. The
normal state due to the
state between lower critical magnetic field and upper magnetic field is known as an
external magnetic field is
intermediate state or mixed state.
sharp and abrupt for type-I
superconductors.

Due to the low critical Due to the high critical magnetic field, type-II superconductors can be used for
magnetic field, type-I manufacturing electromagnets used for producing strong magnetic field.
superconductors cannot be
used for manufacturing
electromagnets used for
producing strong magnetic
field.

Type-I superconductors are

Type-II superconductors are generally alloys and complex oxides of ceramics.
generally pure metals.

BCS theory can be used to

explain the
BCS theory cannot be used to explain the superconductivity of type-II superconductors.
superconductivity of type-I
superconductors.

These are completely

These are not completely diamagnetic
diamagnetic.

These are also called as

These are also called as Hard Superconductors.
Soft Superconductors.

These are also called as

Low-temperature These are also called as High-temperature Superconductors.
Superconductors.

No mixed state exists in

A mixed state exists in type-II Superconductors.
type-I Superconductors.

Slight impurity does not

affect the superconductivity Slight impurity greatly affects the superconductivity of type-II superconductors.
of type-I superconductors.

Due to the low critical

magnetic field, type-I
Due to the high critical magnetic field, type-II superconductors have wider technical
superconductors have
applications.
limited technical
applications.

Examples: Hg, Pb, Zn,etc. Examples: NbTi, Nb3Sn, etc.

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