These vortices are of considerable practical significance since their statics and dynamics determine the maximum current that a given superconductor can carry without electrical resistance.

[2] Crabtree was an early pioneer of research in high-temperature superconducting materials,[3] first discovered in 1986, including studies of their crystal structures, thermodynamic properties, behavior in magnetic fields, and maximum resistance-less current.

[3][6] In 2012, Crabtree was appointed the Director of Argonne's newly formed Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR).

Under his leadership, the center's researchers have reported advances in four types of next-generation batteries beyond current lithium-ion technology: In 2018, Crabtree’s Scientific and Operational Leadership team in JCESR received the Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award from the Department of Energy for “changing the formula for developing next-generation batteries.” Crabtree was a Fellow of the American Physical Society,[31] a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences,[32] and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

[33] In 2003, Crabtree was awarded the Kamerlingh Onnes Prize (granted once every three years) for his experimental research with others on vortices in high-temperature superconductors.