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                                                                EXHIBIT 23.1





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS




We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement and related Prospectus of Illinois Superconductor
Corporation for the registration of 715,488 shares of its common stock and to 
the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated January 29, 1997, 
except for paragraph 8 of Note 6, for which the date is March 7, 1997, with 
respect to the financial statements and schedule of Illinois Superconductor 
Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended 
December 31, 1996, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 


                                               /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                                
                                                ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Chicago, Illinois
June 23, 1997