Type 1 superconductors are mainly metals and metalloids that show some conductivity at room temperature. They were the first materials found to exhibit superconductivity. Mercury was the first element observed to display superconducting properties in 1911.

They generally require extreme cold before they will become superconducting. However, they exhibit a sharp transition as they move into the superconducting state.

The table below lists some Type 1 superconductors and their critical temperatures (Tc), i.e. the temperature at which they become superconducting.

Table 1. Critical temperatures (Tc) of some pure metals or type 1 superconductors.

Element


Symbol


Tc (K)


Tc (°C)


Tc (°F)

Aluminium


Al


1.75


-271


-457

Beryllium


Be


0.03


-273


-460

Cadmium


Cd


0.52


-273


-459

Gallium


Ga


1.08


-272


-458

Hafnium


Hf


0.13


-273


-459

Mercury


Hg


4.15


-269


-452

Indium


In


3.41


-270


-454

Iridium


Ir


0.11


-273


-459

Lanthanum


La


4.88


-268


-451

Molybdenum


Mo


0.92


-272


-458

Niobium


Nb


9.25


-264


-443

Osmium


Os


0.66


-272


-458

Lead


Pb


7.2


-266


-447

Rhenium


Re


1.7


-271


-457

Ruthenium


Ru


0.49


-273


-459

Tin


Sn


3.72


-269


-453

Tantalum


Ta


4.47


-269


-452

Technetium


Tc


7.8


-265


-446

Thorium


Th


1.38


-272


-457

Titanium


Ti


0.4


-273


-459

Tellurium


Tl


2.38


-271


-455

Vanadium


V


5.4


-268


-450

Tungsten


W


0.02


-273


-460

Zinc


Zn


0.85


-272


-458

Zirconium


Zr


0.61


-273


-459

Some other elements do exhibit superconductivity, however require pressure at sufficiently low temperatures to induce superconducting behaviour.