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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1




               CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

We have issued our report dated January 12, 2001, except for the final section
of Note 12 and for Note 13, as to which the dates are February 26, 2001, and
March 19, 2001, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet of Illinois
Superconductor Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000, and the
related statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash
flows of Illinois Superconductor Corporation for the year ended December 31,
2000, included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2000 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report in the Registration Statements on Form
S-3 (File numbers 333-53338 and 333-53646) and Form S-8 (File numbers 333-39342
and 333-49268).


                                           /s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Chicago, Illinois
March 29, 2001