What happened
A Sept. 2 report in Science and Technology Daily says a research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, together with Shougang Research Institute and Beijing Beiye New Materials, has developed an iron-based alloy substrate called DW01 for high-temperature superconducting tape. Tapes made with DW01 showed significantly better key indicators than tapes made with conventional Hastelloy substrates, according to the report.
The substrate acts as the structural "skeleton" of superconducting tape, which is designed to conduct with almost no resistance under high currents and strong magnetic fields. The team reports that DW01 was developed after more than three years of work, uses mainly common iron, has raw-material costs about one-quarter those of Hastelloy substrate, and has better magnetic and electrical-resistance performance that can help lower energy losses. Six patent applications have been filed on its composition and production method, and its thickness precision, surface quality and other key indicators have reached supply standards for industrial manufacturing.
Securities Times data through the Sept. 3 close show superconductor concept stocks averaged a 0.3% decline for the year. Six concept stocks rose more than 50%: Binglun Environment, Zhongtian Technology, Hanlan Cable, Faersheng, Dongfang Tantalum and Yongding. Binglun Environment led with a 111.12% year-to-date gain and first-half 2026 net profit of 311 million yuan, up 17.01%. Thirteen concept stocks posted higher net profit in the first half of 2026, with Zhongfu Industrial, Zongyi, Baosheng, Yongding and Zhongtian Technology growing more than 50%; Zhongfu Industrial had the fastest growth, with net profit of 1.881 billion yuan, up 165.84%.
Why it matters
A tape's substrate is essential to its durability and practicality. DW01's reported combination of lower raw-material costs and improved magnetic and electrical-resistance performance addresses a key challenge for high-temperature superconducting tape in fields such as controlled nuclear fusion, superconducting power and superconducting accelerators, and supports the goal of making core HTS materials self-sufficient.
The share-price snapshot adds a market dimension: even though the sector average fell slightly, a cluster of related companies posted notable first-half earnings growth. Investors may be weighing how much advances in superconducting core materials and their industrial adoption will flow into listed-company results.
Key facts
DW01 is a new iron-based alloy substrate for high-temperature superconducting tape, developed by the CAS Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry with Shougang Research Institute and Beijing Beiye New Materials.
DW01's raw-material cost is about one-quarter that of Hastelloy substrate, and it offers better magnetic and electrical-resistance performance; six invention patent applications have been filed.
Six superconductor concept stocks rose more than 50% year-to-date as of Sept. 3; Binglun Environment led with a 111.12% gain and first-half 2026 net profit up 17.01%.
Thirteen superconductor concept stocks increased first-half 2026 net profit; Zhongfu Industrial had the fastest rise, with net profit of 1.881 billion yuan, up 165.84%.
What to watch next
Whether DW01 moves from meeting supply standards to broader adoption in commercial production of high-temperature superconducting tape.
Whether the six concept stocks with large year-to-date gains and the 13 companies with rising first-half profit can sustain their momentum as superconducting material technology advances.